Bobby Lee Barks

Bobby Lee Barks, 86, of Oak Ridge, passed away, Wednesday, October 12, 2022, at his residence.

Bob was born January 9, 1936, in Cape Girardeau, to the Rev. Loy L. and Jettie (Gartung) Barks, and he was their only child.

He was a 1954 graduate of Jackson High School, where he was active in FFA, band, and played football.    Bob earned a bachelor’s degree in music from the Baptist Bible College in Springfield, Missouri.

Bob’s first church home was Messler Baptist Church, where at a very young age, he met his bride to be, Anna C. “Claueda” Moran.  They were united in marriage on June 28, 1959, in Oran, Missouri.

Bob’s father ministered at Calvary Baptist Church in Jackson, where Bob was very active.  Every Sunday morning, he drove to Cape Girardeau to assist his father with a live radio broadcast.  He demonstrated his love of music by singing with The Ambassadors and The Faithmen.   Bob was currently a member of the Cape County Cowboy Church in Oak Ridge and a former member of the General Baptist Church in Jackson.

Bobby wore many hats during his career.  He was a lifelong farmer, owning and operating a chicken farm in Millersville and delivered eggs for the hatchery. In 1969, Bob built his family a home on his family farm where he raised cattle with his father. He worked as a substitute vocational agriculture teacher at Jackson High School, and he owned Barks Fabric and the Rainbow Grill.  He later became an auctioneer and established Barks Auction.

His civic and professional affiliations included Jackson Chamber of Commerce, Jackson R-2 School Board, the Missouri Professional Auctioneer Association serving as vice president and president, and he was also active in the local and national auctioneer associations, always giving his time to help raise money for various charities.

Loving survivors include his wife of 63 years, Claueda Barks of Oak Ridge; two children, Robin Anderson, and Robert (Renee) Barks, both of Oak Ridge; five grandchildren, Angela (Brian) Daniels, Heather Anderson, Tony (Jodie) Barks, Michael (Regina) Anderson, and Ashley (Greg) Martin; and nine great-grandchildren, Tyler Anderson, Kody Barks, Jason Seabaugh, Kaleb Martin, Emma Barks, Caleb Anderson, Luke Anderson, Lillian Martin, Elizabeth Anderson; and a brother-in-law, Garry Moran.

He was preceded in death by his parents.

Visitation will be held from 9 to 11 a.m., Tuesday, October 18, 2022, at McCombs Funeral Home and Cremation Center in Jackson.  Rev. Michael Grant will conduct the funeral service at 11 a.m., Tuesday, at the funeral home.  Interment will follow at Russell Heights Cemetery in Jackson.

For memorial donations, the family encourages you to consider St. Jude Children's Research Hospital or the Alzheimer's Association, so research can be continued to cure terrible diseases, particularly dementia, which has affected Claueda the past several years.

Online condolences may be shared with the family by clicking on the tribute wall tab above Bob’s obituary article at mccombsfuneralhome.com.

Alzheimer's Association- St. Louis
9370 Olive Blvd, St. Louis MO 63122
Tel: 1-800-272-3900
Web: https://act.alz.org/donate

St. Jude Children's Research Hospital
501 St. Jude Place, Memphis TN 38105
Tel: 1-800-805-5856
Web: https://www.stjude.org/donate/donate-to-st-jude.html?sc_icid=header-btn-donate-now&homepagedonate