Benjamin Forrest Barker

Benjamin Forrest Barker, born July 19, 1993 in Houston, died June 30, 2014. He moved to Cistern at age 7 years and graduated from Flatonia High School, the class of 2011. He played baseball until sidelined by a permanent injury. Other sports included hunting, fishing and competitive shooting. Ben loved music, had a beautiful voice and accompanied

himself on guitar. His vocation as chef led him to studies at the Cordon Bleu Academy in Austin and employment at the

Red Vault Bistro in Flatonia. Generous and outgoing, he had a large circle of friends and was a loving son, brother and uncle. When his work on earth was done, the Lord called our wonderful boy because he needed another angel. He is greatly missed and mourned by all who knew and loved him. Ben, you will always be in our thoughts and prayers.

He is survived by his mother, Kathleen Ann McCann Barker, father George Croft Barker Jr.; siblings, Caroline Ashley Barker, Claiborne Thomas Barker, William Robert Haynes III; sister-in-law, Michelle Lynn Haynes; nieces, Emily Nicole

Haynes, Mathilde Claiborne Barker; grandmothers, Anna Mae Fullilove Barker, Mary Ann Noren McCann; aunt,

Charlotte Cherry Barker Reese. Ben is now reunited in heaven with his beloved grandfathers“Grandaddy” George Croft Barker and “Papa” Bernard Benjamin McCann, as well as other friends and relatives who preceded him. Visitation will begin at 10 a.m. Friday, July 4, 2014 at Smith Funeral Home Chapel in Flatonia. Services will be held Saturday, July 5, 2014 at the Smith Funeral Home Chapel with Rev. Tim Rowell officiating. Burial will follow at the Cistern Public Cemetery in Cistern. Words of comfort may be shared with the family at www. smithfuneralhomeflatonia.com. Smith Funeral Home in Flatonia is in charge of arrangements.