Peggy Barks, 81, passed away Tuesday, July 17, 2018, at Southeast Hospital in Cape Girardeau.

She was born Dec. 9, 1936, in Hannibal, Missouri, to Charles Henry and Lillian Bone Smith. Her early childhood years were spent in Esther (now part of Park Hills), Missouri. She graduated from eighth grade in Desloge, Missouri, and from ninth grade in Esther, where she was co-valedictorian of her class. She was also valedictorian of her 1954 graduating class in Berkeley, Missouri.

Peggy and Noel Phillip Barks were married Jan. 19, 1957, in Hernando, Mississippi. They celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary in 2007. She and Noel lived in Cape Girardeau for 22 years before moving to Scott City, where they lived for more than 30 years. Noel died June 20, 2011.​

Peggy received her bachelor's degree in 1961 from Southeast Missouri State University and her Master of Education in 1967 from the University of Missouri.​

She began her teaching career in 1956 at Iona School (near Trail of Tears State Park), which merged with several other small schools to form the Nell Holcomb School District. In 1964, she began teaching in Cape Girardeau at Lorimier School, where she taught in the special education classrooms. She remained in that position until the school was closed, when she transferred to the learning disability classrooms at Washington and May Greene schools. She taught her last 16 years at May Greene. Peggy retired in 1990.

Peggy authored and co-authored several articles in the Missouri State Teachers Association's School and Community magazine, and one of her pet projects, the Bobcat Den (an in-school garage sale reward system), was featured in the Instructor Magazine. In 1977, she was given the MUATE Outstanding Teacher Educator Award for her work with student teachers from Southeast Missouri State University. She delighted in being able to teach alongside several of her former student teachers as a co-worker after their graduation from college.​

​She was a member of Red Star Baptist Church for many years and joined Eisleben Lutheran Church in Scott City in 2011. She was active in Vacation Bible School, Ladies' Aid and other church activities. She was also an active member of Oak Ridge FCE.​

Peggy is survived by a sister-in-law, Barbara Barks of Jackson; many nephews and nieces; great-nephews and great-nieces; and great-great-nephews and -nieces.

She was preceded in death by her husband; her mother and father; her stepmother, Edyth Faye Smith; a brother, Walter Smith; and an infant brother, William. ​

Visitation will be held from 4 to 8 p.m. today at Amick-Burnett Funeral Chapel in Scott City.​

Funeral service will be at 11 a.m. Saturday at Eisleben Lutheran Church in Scott City, with Pastor Marty Hasz and the Rev. Donny Ford officiating. ​Burial will be in Lightner Cemetery in Scott City.​

Memorials may be made to Eisleben Lutheran Church, the Alzheimer's Association or the Diabetes Association.​

Online condolences may be shared at www.amick-burnettfuneralchapels.