Margrette Thomas Barker, 86, was born on September 24, 1926 in Holmes County, FL during one of the worst hurricanes Florida ever experienced. She was the eighth child of nine siblings, born on a farm to Barnie Henry Thomas and Lokie Syrena Lunsford Thomas. She was preceded in death by three sisters; Jewel Lee Thomas Herrmann Roper, Lucy Lora Thomas Vaughan and Katie Mae Thomas Darnell Willis. Five brothers also preceded her in death; Marcellus Bunyan Thomas, William David Thomas, Marcus Edwin Thomas, Charlie Tolbert Thomas and Carlton Max Thomas. Margrette is survived by her husband of 70 years, Roland Darnell Barker and three sons; Dr. Ronald Darnell Barker (Birgitt) of Munich, Germany, Lawrence Wayne Barker (Linda) of Savannah, GA and Samuel Lee Barker (Theresa) of Pensacola. She is survived also by four grandchildren; Jason Lawrence Barker (Ashlee), Brian Daniel Barker (Brandi), Cheryl Lynn Barker Brewer (Jason) and Ann Margrette Barker Sutton (Frank) of Fairhope, AL. Four great-grandchildren, whom she loved and adored are Kyle Wesley Brewer, Fredrick Thomas Sutton, Matthew Roland Sutton and Daniel Marcus Sutton as well as 53 nieces and nephews. As a youngster, Margrette was active in the 4-H Club and at age 12, attended her first camping experience at Camp Timpooche on Chattahoochee Bay, FL. Margrette finished Leonia High School, Holmes County at age 16. She and Roland were married on October 9, 1942, while Roland was on leave from the Navy. Margrette was employed in May, 1943 at Eglin Air Force Base as a clerk-typist. The next year, she worked at Fort Rucker, AL in Quartermaster Property Accounting for the US Army. Upon Roland's return from a 3 year sea duty in the Pacific, Margrette and Roland enjoyed their first shore duty station in Key West, FL as well as many other duty stations until Roland received a disability retirement in 1953. Margrette was employed from 1955-59 at Pensacola Naval Air Station as a Clerk-Typist in Disbursing in the Travel Section. Margrette spent over 55 years in the United Methodist Church and United Methodist Women, Pensacola District, serving as President for four years. Her work continued in the Alabama-West Florida Conference, where she held several offices. She served as a certified Lay Speaker in the Pensacola District United Methodist Church. For 38 years, she attended the Alabama/West Florida United Methodist Women School of Christian Missions at Blue Lake, AL. Margrette attended PJC for two semesters. She enjoyed family, friends and whomever she met, always saying that loving relationships are the most important things in life. She held several offices in the League of Women Voters of the Pensacola Bay Area, including the presidency. In the 1960's, she was one of the first volunteers of Meals on Wheels. She was an active member of the Ferry Pass Homemakers Club for twenty years. She was a member of the Historic Preservation Society and served as a docent at the Quina House for many years. Margrette enjoyed gardening, quilting, and dressmaking (sewing for family and friends). Travel was another passion and included visiting six cities in China as well as Tokyo, Japan. She made five trips to Europe, and also included a Medical Missionary trip to Ecuador in 2007. Volunteer work was always an important feature of life, including Day Care at the Community Mental Health Association, working with dyslexic children at Holm Elementary, Ensley Elementary School volunteer as well as her participation as a grandmother to the Woodham High Chorus Booster Club, where as a chaperone, she accompanied the group to sing at Carnegie Hall for performances in 1996 and 1998. Memorial services will be held at 11:00am Saturday, June 15, 2013 at St. Luke United Methodist Church with Rev. Mike Roberts officiating. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to St. Luke United Methodist Church, 1394 E. Nine Mile Road; Pensacola, Fl 32514.