Gary Allen Barrickman was born May 1, 1937 to Lloyd and Mary (Fenton) Barrickman. He grew up in rural Centerville where he attended the Elm Grove country school, then Centerville schools and graduated from Centerville High School in 1955.
Gary married Dorothy Lee Gorman in 1956 and born to this union were two children, Diana Lee Barrickman and Lisa Marie Eddy (George). He was preceded in death by his parents, his brothers Charles Barrickman and Bobby Barrickman and his daughter Diana. Survivors include his wife Dorothy, daughter Lisa, grandchildren Travis Harbour (Angela) of Irwin, Iowa, Cheslie Kirkhart (Dustin) of Shelby, Iowa and Luke Eddy (Olivia) of Lincoln, Nebraska, seven great-grandchildren and two great-great grandchildren.
In his younger years, Gary helped his father with his carpentry business, then started working at Craver Lumber Company for a few years. He custom baled hay for area farmers as well. He spent the rest of his career in various leadership positions at Union Carbide / Viskase Corporation, being one of their first employees when they opened in Centerville in 1962. He was well-respected and admired by all of those who worked with him and for him. He had the ingenuity and mind of an engineer, if not the degree. He could design and manufacture any kind of gizmo you could imagine. He worked tirelessly with his team at Union Carbide to build some of the best animated Pancake Day floats that the parade has ever seen.
Gary was a member of the local sheriff’s posse and helped with the search for the wreckage of Continental Flight 11 in 1962. He delivered lumber to the fairgrounds and helped the crew assemble the mockup of the plane after the crash.
Gary had a lifelong interest in old farm equipment and he, along with several neighbors and friends, started the Elm Grove Threshers antique farm show in 1976 southeast of Centerville. He loved to attend Midwest Old Threshers in Mt. Pleasant and many other antique farm shows around the Midwest. He and a group of friends that were gas engine enthusiasts formed the IA-MO Gas Engine Club, which is still going strong today. He also enjoyed collecting Cushman and Doodlebug scooters and attended shows around the country to support that hobby.
Gary and Dorothy traveled on family vacations all over the United States and Alaska. They enjoyed seeing the different parts of the country with their friends and family. Gary didn’t know a stranger and would make quick friends wherever he was.
Gary always wanted to be a boy scout but didn’t have the opportunity when he was a child, so he helped his grandson Luke be a boy scout, helping him attain Eagle Scout level and helped with many of Boy Scout Troop 33’s projects all over town.
Funeral services will be held 11:00 am Thursday, December 26 at the First Baptist Church in Centerville with Reverand Ed Parker officiating with visitation one hour before the service. Burial will follow at the Haines Cemetery north of Centerville. A memorial has been established to the Appanoose County Historical Society.
