OSAGE CITY, Kan. – Carletta K. Barker, 79, passed away Saturday, Feb. 21, 2026, at her home in Osage City, Kan. Carletta Kay Eggens was born Aug. 29, 1946, in El Dorado, Kan., the daughter of Charles J.W. and Virgie Dee (Talkington) Eggens.
She spoke fondly of the school year she spent in Missouri, referring to it as the happiest time of her life. She primarily attended school in El Dorado, where she graduated in 1964. She earned an associate degree from Topeka Technical College in Business in 1998.
After divorce, Carletta settled into life as a single parent and provider, and what a fantastic job she did! Later, she found a long term significant other in Larry Middleton, and they spent 39 years together.
Carletta moved from El Dorado to Emporia, Kan., in 1973, where she worked at IBP as a packager for 23 years. In 1987, she moved to Osage City, and later started working for the Newcomer Funeral Group, in Topeka, in 1998, where she worked for 17 years until her retirement.
She loved cats, especially her cat, Marigold. Carletta was content with the simple things in life and took pride in that fact. She enjoyed hot tea, cookies, live music and variety shows, porch time, and Young and the Restless.
Carletta will be forever loved and remembered by her daughter, Kim (Darryl) Albertson, of Wichita, Kan.; a son, Travis (Angela) Barker, La Harpe, Kan.; half-sister, Becky Scanlon, Cassoday, Kan.; eight grandchildren and ten great grandchildren; and significant other, Larry Midddleton.
She was preceded in death by her daughter, Deena Kay Baker; parents; stepdad, Kenneth B. Sade; stepmother, Marie “Sis” Eggens; and half-sister, Sylvia Sivils.
Graveside service will be 2 p.m. Friday, March 6, at Sunset Lawns Cemetery, 2100 Sunset Rd., El Dorado, KS 67042. Family will receive friends an hour before graveside.
Memorial contributions can be made to Osage Friends for Felines, sent in care of VanArsdale Funeral Chapel, 107 N. Sixth St., Osage City, KS 66523. Condolences can be left at vanarsdalefs.com.
