Obituary of Barclay James Walker

Barclay James Walker, 64, artist, storyteller and stalwart family member died peacefully May 14 at the Charlotte County Hospital, St. Stephen, NB after a brief struggle with cancer. He was the beloved son of the late David and Willa Walker, and was also predeceased by his eldest brother Patrick and his nephew David. He is fondly remembered by his loving brothers Giles (Hannele) of Montreal, David (Diane) of St. Andrews, and Julian (Caroline) of Fredericton and their families. He was Uncle Barks to his many nephews and nieces and their children. A lifelong resident of St. Andrews and Bayside, he was a well-known landscape and nature water-colourist. New York artist Anne Dunn described at a Gallery 78 opening in Fredericton how Molly Bobak gave her an introduction to Barclay and his work “which we both admired.” Barclay was also a popular storyteller and drew on his adventuresome work history and travels for material for his stories. He had been, variously, a cowboy, logger, forest fire crewman, gold miner, and lineman on the White Pass and Yukon narrow gauge railway. Barclay had a keenear for accents and at family gatherings he also loved to recount popular Maine and British comedy routines such as Bert and I and Beyond the Fringe. Barks was the most musical of the Walkers and a fine guitarist. He had an eye for talent and in the early sixties brought home a Gordon Lightfoot album, telling the family to get ready for it, this singer "is going to be big." The brightest, most keen-witted and worldly of the four Walker boys, Barks graduated from Dalhousie University in 1969 where he was involved in the Nova Scotia civil rights movement and was increasingly committed to African economic and political development. In his early 20’s he began his arduous struggle with mental illness which he would battle for the rest of his life, while still maintaining his sense of humour and honing his creative talents. The family expresses its grateful thanks to Barclay’s caregivers and his medical supporters, and recently, the palliative care team at the Charlotte County Hospital. The family also acknowledges the warm and kind support for Barclay of the St. Andrews and Bayside community for more than 40 years. Family and friends will gather for his funeral at the Greenock Presbyterian Church, Montague St., St. Andrews at 2pm on Saturday, May 19th.In lieu of flowers, donations would be appreciated by the family to the Canadian Mental Health Association, New Brunswick Division or to Sunbury Shores Arts and Nature Centre, St. Andrews. Arrangements by Humphreys’ Funeral Home, 20 Mark Street, St. Stephen, NB, E3L 2B2.