Terry Barker

Terry Michael Barker, age 67, was born August 16, 1955, in Warren, Arkansas, and passed away November 12, 2022 in Dallas, Texas. He was born to Robert Lee Barker and Elizabeth Mae Cook Barker.

Terry graduated from North Mesquite High School in 1973. He then attended Eastfield Junior College as a member of the baseball team in 1974 and 1975. He served his country proudly in the United States Army as a Huey and Cobra Pilot from 1975 to 1978 at Fort Bragg, North Carolina. Terry obtained his fixed-wing pilot’s license during his time in the Army. Following his honorable discharge, he enrolled in the aviation program at Southeastern Oklahoma State University where he met the love of his life, Karen Kathleen Abitz. Shortly after, Terry took Karen on a Cessna flight to Tulsa to celebrate Karen’s birthday. Mid-flight he pulled a ring box out of his cowboy boot and proposed over the Okmulgee VOR. Terry graduated and then married Karen on October 4, 1980, in Durant, Oklahoma.

From there, they moved to Ada, Oklahoma where he flew for an air hearse company. Then, along with his father-in-law, he started his own company, Southwest Air Hearse. In March of 1982, they moved to North Philadelphia where Terry flew a Learjet for an aerial surveying company. In August of 1984, on his 29th birthday, “American Airlines” called and offered him a job as a flight engineer based in New York. Of course, Terry thought it was a joke and hung up on them. Fortunately, they called back!

Terry was a top rated pilot for well over 40 years. He retired from a successful career with American Airlines where he was a Check Airman on the Fokker 100, Airbus A300, and the Boeing 777. As a firearms enthusiast, Terry was especially proud to be a Federal Flight Deck Officer. To celebrate becoming a junior Captain, in true Terry fashion, he purchased his “I love me” gift – a 1990 Porsche Guards Red 944. This kicked off his long-standing involvement in the Porsche Club of America, where he and Karen have participated in yearly Porsche drives.

Terry’s other hobbies included snow skiing, learning to play the guitar, and building airplanes to avoid home remodeling and the “honey-do” list. Additionally, he enjoyed being a member of the HITUTOA group. Most mornings you could find Terry with the “Keller Coffee Clique,” sarcastically reading the group's horoscopes and doing his daily sudoku puzzle.

Terry loved to help and serve. He served the Keller community as a member of the Planning and Zoning Commission from 1995 to 1999 and was elected to two terms on the Keller City Council helping guide our community from 1999 to 2003. Terry was involved in many organizations. He was a member of Quiet Birdmen as Key Man and Governor. Terry was the Maintenance Officer for the Gulf Coast Wing of the Commemorative Air Force and a member of the Grey Eagles.

Above all, Terry was most proud of his family. He loved to travel and support his sons, especially while they played baseball. As a family, they enjoyed watching and attending games of local professional sports teams. Most recently, Terry took pride in being a grandfather and spending time with his new grandson, Brooks.

Grateful for having shared his life are his wife, Karen Barker; son Nathan Barker with his wife Brandi and their son, Brooks; his son, Caleb Barker; his mother, Elizabeth Barker, all of Keller; sister, Jennifer Horton and her husband Randy of Mansfield and his nieces and nephews whom he always asked, “Who loves you the most? …Uncle Terry!”

Terry is preceded in death by his father, Robert Barker; grandparents and numerous aunts and uncles.

Memorial donations may be made to the Terry Barker Memorial Fund - Click Here to Donate