Garry Gene Barker, 67, of Bald Hill in Fleming County, died Tuesday July 12, 2011, at his home.

He was born Nov. 26, 1943, in Ottway, Ohio, to the late James and Loval Cox Barker.

Mr. Barker was a 1961 graduate of Fleming County High School and a 1965 graduate of Berea College.

He began his career as an arts administrator for the Southern Highland Craft Guild in Ashville, N.C. He returned to Berea and continued working as an arts administrator for the Kentucky Guild of Artists and Craftsmen and Berea College Crafts. He was also director of the Kentucky Folk Art Center in Morehead.

A lifelong writer, Mr. Barker had several fiction and non-fiction books published. His writing also included many newspaper articles which led to his most famous articles, a weekly column called Head of the Holler. The column has appeared in the Richmond Register, The Ledger Independent, The Fleming Shopper, The Morehead News, The Lewis County News as well as the Salt Lick Arcadian where it began.

During the last year he worked with Amazon.com and had four books published for Kindle.

Mr. Barker and his wife, Danetta owned the Flemingsburg Gazette for nearly five years. During that time he was publisher and writer.

Survivors include his wife, Danetta; one son, Greg (Marcy) Barker of Flemingsburg; one daughter, Beth (Matt) Barker Fearin of Columbus, Ohio; six grandchildren, Brian Barker, Brad Barker, Holly Barker, Clay Fearin, Carson Fearin and Peyton Fearin; two step-children, Mariah Smith and Patrick Smith, both of Lexington. He is also survived by four sisters, Phyllis (James) Harmon, Rita (Terry) Carpenter, Bonnie (Roger) Hester and Carol Barker, all of Flemingsburg. He is survived by two brothers, Bill Barker of Wallingford and Jon (Pam) Barker of Clarksville, Tenn.

He was preceded in death by two brothers, Roger Barker and Bob Barker; and a step-son, Curry Byrd.

Services are Friday, July 15, at 11 a.m., at Boone-Nickell Funeral Home in Flemingsburg.

Burial will follow in the Flemingsburg Cemetery. Pallbearers are Greg Barker, Brad Barker, Matt Fearin, Jon Barker, Bill Barker and Terry Carpenter. Honorary pallbearers are Clay Fearin and Carson Fearin.

Visitation is Thursday, July 14, after 4 p.m. at the funeral home.

Friends may sign the guest book at boonenickellfuneralhome.com