Helen Hixson Barker

Helen Hixson Barker was born in McGregor, Minnesota to Thomas and Rachael Leinen. The family moved to Oregon when she was 6 months old. She grew up in the Fruitdale area and attended Grants Pass High School. She married Boyd Hixson in August of 1941 and they moved to the family property on Azalea Drive in 1946 where she lived for 53 years. Boyd died in 1994 and soon after she moved into the Rogue Valley Manor. In 2002 she married Lowell Barker who died in 2006. Three daughters Carole Hayne, Dorothy Carson and Alice House survive her along with ten grandchildren, seventeen great grandchildren and fourteen great-great grandchildren and a large extended family. She was preceded in death by a daughter Marie Mathis and a son Boyd Richard (Rich) Hixson. Helen is also survived by a step-son David Barker and a step-daughter Kathy Weber and their families through her marriage to Lowell.



She was active in the Grants Pass community. She served as a Girl Scout leader and day camp director. She also served as president of several local PTA chapters, head of County Council and on the State Board of Directors. She bought the Grants Pass Mode O’Day store in 1967 that she owned until 1987and earned an outstanding performance award from Mode O’Day. She was active in the Grants Pass Chamber of Commerce, Rotary Club and Zonta Club. She was a member of the Merlin Baptist Church, the 40 Plus Dance Club of Grants Pass and the Social Benefit Club of Medford. She loved to dance, golf, travel, play bridge and garden.



A funeral service will be at 11:30 a.m., Saturday, January 5, 2019 at Hull & Hull Funeral Home in Grants Pass. A committal service will follow at 1:00 p.m. at Hillcrest Memorial Park in Grants Pass.



A celebration of her life will be held at 3:00 p.m., Sunday, January 27, 2019 in the Sunrise Room at Rogue Valley Manor.



In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Fairy Godmother Scholarship Program (helping young women achieve their full potential) at the Rogue Valley Manor.