Peggy Barks

Mrs. Peggy Barks, 81 years of age passed away on Tuesday, July 17, 2018 at Southeast Hospital in Cape Girardeau, Missouri. She was born Dec. 9, 1936 in Hannibal, Missouri to Charles Henry and Lillian Bone Smith. Her early childhood years were spent in Esther (now part of Park Hills), Missouri. She graduated from 8th grade in Desloge, Missouri, and from 9th grade in Esther where she was co-valedictorian of her class. She was also valedictorian of her 1954 graduating class in Berkeley, Missouri.

Mrs. Barks was married to Noel Phillip Barks on January 19, 1957 in Hernando, Mississippi. They celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary in 2007. She and Noel lived in Cape Girardeau for 22 years before moving to Scott City, where they lived for over 30 years. Mr. Barks died June 20, 2011.

She began her teaching career in 1956 at Iona School (near Trail of Tears Park), which merged with several other small schools form Nell Holcomb School District. In 1964 she began teaching in Cape Girardeau at Lorimer School, where she taught in the Special Education classrooms. She remained in that position until the school was closed when she transferred to the Learning Disability class rooms at Washington and May Greene Schools. She taught for her last 16 years at May Greene. Mrs. Barks retired in 1990. She received her Bachelor’s Degree in 1961 from Southeast Missouri State University and her Master of Education Degree in 1967 from the University of Missouri.

Mrs. Barks authored and co-authored several articles in the MSTA School and Community Magazine, and one of her pet projects, the Bobcat Den (an in-school garage sale reward system) was featured in the Instructor Magazine. In 1977 she was given the MUATE Outstanding Teacher Educator Award for her work with student teachers from SEMO University. She delighted in being able to teach alongside several of her former student teachers as a co-worker after their graduation from college.

She was preceded in death by her husband; her mother and father; her stepmother, Edyth Faye Smith; a brother, Walter Smith and an infant brother, William.

Mrs. Barks is survived by a sister-in-law, Barbara Barks of Jackson, Missouri; many nephews and nieces; great nephews and great nieces and great-great nephews and nieces.

She was a member of Red Star Baptist Church for many years, and joined Eisleben Lutheran Church in Scott City in 2011. She was active in vacation Bible School, Ladies’ Aid, and other church activities. She was also an active member of Oak Ridge FCE.

Visitation will be from 4:00 – 8:00 pm on Friday at the Amick-Burnett Chapel in Scott City.

Funeral service will be at 11:00 am Saturday at the Eisleben Lutheran Church in Scott City with Pastor Marty Hasz and Rev. Donny Ford officiating.

Burial will be in Lightner Cemetery in Scott City.

Memorials may be made to Eisleben Lutheran Church, Alzheimer’s Association or Diabetes Association.