Sadie Shirley Barker 

(nee: Pongoski) 

August 12, 1925 ~ November 2, 2007 

Sadie Shirley Barker was born in Transcona Manitoba on August 12, 1925. The only daughter of William and Anne Pongoski. Her parents moved to and farmed in the Wingham district, north west of Elm Creek Manitoba. Sadie obtained most of her education at the Wingham School. She then taught school as a permit teacher for one year in the Sadlow District east of Winnipeg. The next year she went to the Oakville School and took grade 12. It was while taking this year of schooling that she met her future husband as he was going to school at the same time. She then taught one year as a permit teacher at the Layland School north west of Elm Creek. She married Keith Barker on November 20, 1945. They worked as farm help until 1948 at which time they started farming on their own in the Elm River District south west of Oakville. She was the leader of the Elm River 4-H sewing club for more than 25 years, and helped many girls learn to sew. Sadie and her husband retired to Carman in 1990. She then took up the hobby of painting and produced many very fine works of art both in oil and water color. Sadie is survived by her husband Keith, 5 children, 16 grandchildren, and 6 great grandchildren. She was predeceased by one infant son Brian. Sadie died on November 2, 2007, at the Carman Memorial Hospital. 

Family funeral services will be held at the Oakville Cemetery on Friday, November 9, 2007 with a public memorial service to follow at 2:00 p.m. at the Carman Mennonite Church. In lieu of flowers memorial donations to the Gideons would be greatly appreciated.