A former Conroe mayor who saw the city through some of its toughest times and is the namesake to one of its largest recreational parks passed away Saturday at the age of 88.

Carl Barton Jr. served the city as its mayor from 1979-89 while owning a Chrysler dealership for 30 years.

“He was a good mayor,” said Carter Moore, a former Conroe mayor, city councilman and planning commission member. “He got us through some tough times.”

Moore was on the planning commission during Barton’s tenure as mayor.

Moore said times were so tough for the city that Barton was forced to lay off some of its employees.

“In one instance, he had to buy used DPS cars to use as police cars,” Moore said. “It wasn’t very good, but he had to do what he did.”

Conroe was faced with cash problems long before voters passed a sales tax, Moore said, affecting how council members and Barton could spend money in the city’s coffers.

“He didn’t have near the cash we had to work with,” Moore said. “He did a good job with what he had.”

Barton’s passion was the city’s Parks Department, Moore said, and years after the former mayor left office, the city repaid his love by naming a park in his honor.

Carl Barton Jr. Park, which is the largest in Conroe, spreads over 200 acres, housing fields for soccer, baseball and even fishing opportunities. It was named in 1999 and completed a year later. It sits in the 2500 block of South Loop 336.

“He helped get our parks started,” Moore said. “When he was serving as mayor, he was very involved in it.”

After leaving office, Barton retreated to ranching, his friend Moore said.

“He semi-retired and went and hid in the country and played with his cows and had good times,” Moore said.

The family will receive friends from 5-7 p.m. Monday at Cashner Funeral Home with a private family burial Wednesday.

Barton was preceded in death by his wife Barbara Bell Barton and his parents.

He is survived by his daughters, Patricia Moore and husband, Dana Byrd and husband; sons, Blake Barton and wife and Carey Barton and wife; numerous grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Jamie L. Bridges can be reached at jbridges@hcnonline.com.