James Merton Barber^{[1, 2, 3]}

1916 - 2009  (93 years)

• Name	James Merton Barber
  Nickname	Mert, Merton
  Born	27 Jun 1916	North Loup, Valley, Nebraska, United States   [1, 2, 3]
  Gender	Male
  Census	1940	Battle Creek, Calhoun, Michigan, United States   [3]
  Occupation	1940  [3]
  	Packer, food company
  _AMTID	190111282971:1030:113173531
  Died	5 Nov 2009  [1]
  Buried	Augusta, Kalamazoo, Michigan, United States   [1]
  	Address: Fort Custer National Cemetery
  Notes	April 4 1940 Battle Creek Calhoun Michigan SD 3 ED 13-18 Sheet 3A Aldrich St. 29 166 R Basement [?] 10 No Barber Merton x head M W 23 M No 12 Nebr No th Loup Nebr Yes Yes - - - 36 Packer Food Co PW 26 850 No ---Margaret wife F W 25 M No 12 Nebr North Loup Nebr Yes No no no no H ---Betty June x Inf F W 11 [?] S - - Same place No no no no no Inf ---Iris Sister F W 19 S No 12 Nebr North Loup Nebr Yes Yes - - - 54 H H ousekeeper Pvt. PW Find-a-Grave: F2 US Navy - World War II James Merton Barber, known as "Mert" Barber, 93, had suffered ill healt h for a few years but died unexpectedly on November 5, 2009. He was bor June 27, 1916, in North Loup, Nebraska, to Glenn Douglas Barber and C ora Rogers Barber. Mert was employed by the Kellogg Company for 40 years, retiring in 1976 . As the president and life member of the Kellogg Sportsman's Club, he h elped initiate bottle deposit legislation and worked diligently with a c ommittee in the 1950's to rid the Battle Creek rivers of pollution. He a lso served as president of the 25-year Club and the Kellogg Retiree's A ssociation. Mert was the recipient of many honors for his conservation p ojects and was proud of his life membership in the NRA and the Marshal l Moose Lodge 676. Mert was a man of many talents. As a child he played in the town band, d irected by his grandfather, and enjoyed a life-long participation in an d appreciation of music. He was an avid golfer, bowler, hunter, trap sh ooter, woodworker, photographer, rose grower, sports fan, and some-time p oet. Above all, he doted on his family, of which there are many. Survivors include his wife, Donna House Bennett Barber, daughter Betty B arber McConnell, sons Paul (Mary) Barber and Rick (Ila) Barber, ten gra dchildren, 12 great-grandchildren, brother Wayne (Joan) Barber, sister s Iris Priestly, Jo Antoniuk and Jeanne Dress. He is also survived by t wo step-sons, Curtis Bennett and Cory (Barbara) Bennett, brother-in-law D ick (Vivian) House, sister-in-law Molly Jo Bonner, five step-grandchild en, three great step-grandchildren, and nieces and nephews too numerou s to mention. Mert was preceded in death by his first wife, Margaret Sayre, and his b others, Ellis, Paul, Kenneth, and Claude. Mert served in the U.S. Navy d uring WWII and was stationed in the Philippines. He will be interred at Fort Custer National Cemetery, Augusta, Michigan . At the request of the family, friends may call Sunday, November 15, 2 009 from 2:00 to 5:00 p.m., at the Farley-Estes & Dowdle Funeral Home. G aveside services will be private. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be d irected to Mert's home church, Seventh Day Baptist Church, P.O. Box 146 , North Loup, Nebraska, 68859, or the charity of your choice. Source: Obituary, "The Battle Creek Enquirer", Battle Creek, Michigan, T hursday, Nov. 12, 2009.
  Person ID	I99304	Megan's Big Tree
  Last Modified	14 Jul 2018

  
  

  Father	Glenn D. Barber
  Mother	Cora Rogers
  Family ID	F47840	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  
  

  Family	Susan Margaret Sayre,   b. 1912–1913, Nebraska, United States ,   d. 11 Mar 1980, Battle Creek, Calhoun, Michigan, United States  (Age 67 years)
  Married	27 Jun 1937	Battle Creek, Calhoun, Michigan, United States   [2, 4]
  Children	1. Betty June Barber   2. Paul M. Barber   3. Richard G. Barber
  Last Modified	4 Jul 2019
  Family ID	F36699	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  
  

• Event Map

  Born - 27 Jun 1916 - North Loup, Valley, Nebraska, United States Married - 27 Jun 1937 - Battle Creek, Calhoun, Michigan, United States Census - - 1940 - Battle Creek, Calhoun, Michigan, United States Buried - Address: Fort Custer National Cemetery - - Augusta, Kalamazoo, Michigan, United States  = Link to Google Earth

  
  

• Sources

  [S797] Find-a-Grave Website . [S2020] Michigan, Marriage Records, 1867-1952 . [S1267] 1940 Census . [S2387] Michigan, County Marriages, 1820-1940 and Michigan, County Marriage Records, 1822-1840 , online; 14 July 2018; Margaret Sayre; 1937 .