We Remember

BARKER, James Gordon

February 17, 1948 — June 23, 2025

With family at his side, James “Jim” Barker passed away at the age of 77 in Kelowna, BC.

Jim was born and raised in Kinsella, AB and has called Westbank, BC home for the past 45 years.

He is survived by his loving wife Peggy; his three boys Don (Kathy), Corey (Jackie) and Chris (Sarah); his grandchildren Ethan, Charlie, John, and Victoria; his sister Kris; brother Brian (Donna); as well as numerous nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by his parents Allan and Helga; his brother Ron; and his brother-in-law Howard.

Jim always had a passion for aviation, and even as a small boy, he told his mother that he wanted to be a helicopter pilot. This lifelong interest in helicopters turned into a long career as a helicopter pilot, with over 20,000 hours of logged flight time. Jim spent most of his career as chief pilot of Alpine Helicopters, where he left a legacy of safe, confident, highly skilled mountain flying. Jim was an expert in all areas of helicopter flight, from fighting fires, running medivac flights, to dropping off heli-skiers and hikers for once in a lifetime experiences in the Canadian Rockies.

As per Jim’s wishes, he requests that those who he left behind get together and have a cold beer and share some stories. The family requests that, in lieu of flowers, donations can be directed to the Kelowna General HospitalThe Canadian Cancer Society or the Canadian Red Cross.

Jim kept a copy of this poem in his flight log book:

Impressions of a Pilot

Flight is freedom in its purest form,
To dance with the clouds which follow a storm;
To roll and glide, to wheel and spin,
To feel the joy that swells within.

To leave the earth with its troubles and fly,
And know the warmth of a clear spring sky;
Then back to earth at the end of the day,
Released from the tensions which melted away.

Should my end come while I am in flight,
Whether brightest day or darkest night;
Spare me no pity and shrug off the pain,
Secure in the knowledge that I’d do it again.

For each of us is created to die,
And within me I know,
I was born to fly.

by Gary Claude Stoker

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Kelowna General Hospital, Canadian Cancer Society, or Canadian Red Cross Link: www.kghfoundation.com, www.cancer.ca, www.redcross.ca

 


 


Condolences

  • Shaun & Maryann says:

    Dear Chris and Sarah, and family,
    We love you and are here for you always. May you feel endless support, peace and meaning as you journey through grief.
    Love Shaun, Maryann and Everest 💜

  • Kathy Rutz says:

    Thinking of you. ❤️

  • Jane Van Waes (Boe) and family says:

    Thinking of the Barker family in these trying times. We didn’t get to see Jamie that often but always loved chatting with him when we did meet. We fondly remember him taking us up to hike in the Bugaboo Mountains back in the early 80’s. RIP Jamie ❤️

  • Darlene Hamill says:

    My deepest condolences to you and your family.

  • catherine heathcote says:

    Dear Peggy and family,
    I was saddened to hear about Jim. He truly was one of a kind and very special person. Please accept my deepest condolences. I feel like you and your family were friends, we all kind of grew up together. Keep those special memories close. Thinking of you all.
    Catherine, your retired dental hygienist

  • Jule (Makar) Marquardt says:

    To All the Barker Families – Was shocked to hear about Jamie – Our thoughts and prayers are with you all – hold close to all your memories they are so precious – remember all the fun times the Kinsella kids had and didnt matter older or younger- God Bless You All – Alots of love coming from the Makar’s from Kinsella

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