Melvin Jeffrey “Jeff” Barger

Melvin Jeffrey “Jeff” Barger passed away on Sept. 10, 2024, after a long battle with heart issues. 

He is preceded in death by his parents, Melvin Lloyd Barger and Marjorie Janice (Murray) Barger; his sister, Janet Sue Whitaker; his son, Phillip Parrot; and his daughter, Paula Michelle George. 

Jeff is survived by his loving wife, Martha L. Cervantes-Barger; his children, Jennifer Denise Moore, Amy Love Weatherly, Sheila Marie Barger, and Mark James Barger; numerous grandchildren, great-grandchildren, nieces and nephews, all of whom loved him very much. Jeff's love for his family was unwavering and his memory will forever be cherished in their hearts.

Jeff's life was a testament to resilience. Born in Niles, California, on Nov. 12, 1945, he was the oldest of his siblings. He grew up in Hayward, California, and graduated from Tennyson High School in 1964. He studied business at Chabot College for two years. 

Shortly after, he enlisted in the United States Air Force as a Radar Technician during the Vietnam War. He served two tours in Vietnam and was honorably discharged in 1969 for a back injury. Despite this setback, he didn't give up. After separating from the Air Force, he received his real estate license and became a broker, becoming part of one of the largest real estate firms in the San Francisco Bay area.

After the tragic loss of his first wife, Jeff's dedication to his work was unwavering. He started his very own construction company, coined “Iron Horse Trenching.” Being the resourceful and brilliant man he was, he built his own equipment from scratch. 

With his equipment, hard work ethic and contagious humor, he created a very successful trenching company that worked all over the state of California, bringing his kids along with him the entire way.

With his construction ventures in full swing, in 1990, Jeff and Martha met and married soon after. Martha took on the role of mother, caretaker, business partner, and friend to all in Jeff’s pre-existing life, and he did the same for her. Jeff and Martha worked in the construction business together until 2008, when they transitioned into driving big rig semi-trucks together, crisscrossing the country, sharing life, and laughs until their retirement.

While enjoying his retirement, Jeff was a youth pastor in Madera, California, for seven years. He loved teaching and mentoring the youth. On many occasions, he preached at the Madera Seventh Day Adventist Church. Jeff and Martha share the same love for spreading God’s word. They enjoyed doing this with others by going on mission trips to Nicaragua, Chileand Arizona. 

Jeff’s heart desired to reach the lost and tell others about the love of Jesus. He did this by sharing his love through testimony, taking scriptures, and writing them as songs. He loved singing them to anyone who wanted to listen.

In 2012, Jeff and Martha took on the parenting role again by adopting Danny and Dylan George, his daughter Paula’s children, from Wisconsin. While Jeff and Martha enjoyed raising the boys and had many wonderful experiences with them, Jeff returned from retirement. 

He went back into construction as a general contractor building custom homes across the San Joaquin Valley in California. Martha took care of the boys, and in 2014, Martha and the boys moved back to California to be reunited with Jeff until the boys graduated from high school.

After starting a second retirement, Jeff and Martha moved to Yaak, Montana, in 2019. Jeff built his home there and enjoyed making his land precisely how he wanted. He did this all the while still struggling with his heart issues, but he didn’t let that slow him down. He did what he loved until he went to sleep for the last time.

Jeff loved God, his Lord and Savior, and expressed that love in everything he did and everyone he spoke with. He leaves behind a legacy of memories.

A funeral service was held Wednesday, Sept. 18, at the Seventh Day Adventist Church, 206 Airfield Road, Libby, Montana. 

A military graveside memorial followed after at the Boyd Hill Cemetery in Yaak, Montana. 

Arrangements are under the care of Schnackenberg Funeral Home of Libby, Montana. Online condolences and memories may be shared be visiting www.schnackenbergfh.com.