At Ms. Barker’s request, no service will be held. According to sister Marj Wiley, Ms. Barker’s ashes will be “blowing in the wind.”

Ms. Barker was born on Jan. 26, 1954, in Chicago to Frances Barker and the late Harry M. Barker. She attended elementary and high school in Chicago. Ms. Barker received radiology technology training at Edgewater Hospital in Chicago, nuclear medicine technology training at Northwestern in Chicago and MRI technology training in San Francisco. She worked locally and throughout the United States in various roles in radiology and MRI departments. Ms. Barker was instrumental in the establishment of the first MRI scanner at the Central Peninsula General Hospital in Soldotna.

Ms. Barker lived on the Kenai Peninsula since January 1977 and fully embraced the Alaska lifestyle: cutting firewood, picking berries and canning salmon every year. Barker took pride in her role as “auntie” to her beloved nieces Deirdre and Lela Wiley. She volunteered in both girls’ classrooms as they grew up and also tried to instill her love of travel in the girls. She also provided mentorship to many of her friends’ children.

Ms. Barker traveled extensively throughout the world and never missed the chance to take another trip. Her sense of adventure was a pervasive part of her personality. Barker’s travels included visits to Africa, Ireland, China, the Caribbean, and Australia where she sheared sheep in the Outback. She also traveled extensively throughout the United States and Alaska, most recently this past summer taking the Alaska Marine Highway to Dutch Harbor on the Aleutian Chain. Her family commented that Ms. Barker viewed her own passing as just another journey.

Ms. Barker loved being outdoors and excelled at cross-country skiing, hiking, kayaking and scuba diving. She was an excellent chef and enjoyed entertaining her family and many, many friends.

Ms. Barker was active in the community supporting many noble causes. She listened to public radio everyday and was a regular volunteer at the local NPR station, KDLL in Kenai. She also volunteered at Planned Parenthood in Soldotna, Soldotna Elementary School and with the Soldotna Lion’s Club. Barker was passionate about recycling and encouraged everyone to consider what they throw away.

Ms. Barker is survived by her mother Frances Barker; sister and brother-in-law Marj and Lee Wiley; and nieces Deirdre and Lela Wiley, all of Clam Gulch; brother and sister-in-law Thomas and Jenny Barker of Middlothian, Va.; brother and sister-in-law Robert and Judi Barker of Santa Rosa, Calif.; sister and brother-in-law Sandie and Bill Christian of Sun Lakes, Ariz.; brother-in-law Doug Schmitz of Crystal Lake, Ill.; nieces Renee Lambert, Megan Bowen, Courtney Barker, Shannon Barker, Carla Schmitz; and nephews Craig Thalhauser, Tommy Barker, Timmy Barker, and Danny Lambert. Ms. Barker leaves an extensive network of close friends in Alaska and throughout the U.S. and the world. She was preceded in death by her father Harry M. Barker and sister Elizabeth Ann Schmitz.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations can be made to Heifer Project International, P.O. Box 8058, Little Rock, AR 72203; 1-800-422-0474; www.heifer.org.