Gary Leroy Barnett

GARY BARNETT

Gary Leroy Barnett age 85 died Wednesday May 25, 2022 at St. Joseph Hospice in Gulfport, MS. Services will be held Saturday June 4, 2022 at 11:30 am at Wesley United Methodist Church with Rev. Sarah Windham officiating; burial will follow at Howell Cemetery near the Athens Community in Monroe County. Visitation will be held Saturday from 10:30 am until service time at the church. Memorial Gunter Peel Funeral Home & Crematory is in charge of arrangements.

Mr. Barnett was born on March 30, 1937 in Anaheim, CA to the late Claude and Lorena Schmidt Barnett. He was a U.S. Air Force Veteran having served in occupied Japan and Korea from 1955-1963. He completed his military term at Columbus Air Force Base. In 1997 he retired as a Receiving Supervisor at General Tire/GenCorp Polymer Products in Columbus.

His home church for 55 years was Wesley United Methodist Church in Columbus, where he was involved in Sunday School, Helping Hands, the Fall Festival, the Wednesday Night Bible Study, the Men’s Group, the Church Supper Club, Church Choir, and cooked for the Second Sunday Church Breakfast. Other interests included, traveling with the Tenn-Tom Camping Club, and picking up cars for Mitchell Automotive and other dealers. He was always available to help others with his driving skills.  In the final years of his life he was supported by St. Mark’s Episcopal Church in Gulfport.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his wife Jimmie Maxine Tubb Barnett, his brother Don Barnett, his nephew Mike Tubb, his nephew Randy Hanson, his in-laws, Jim and Maxine Tubb, and brother-in-law Howell Tubb.

Survivors include:

Daughter: Lori Moody, her husband Bill and their children Davis, Alexander, Edward, and Victoria of Madison, MS.

Son: James Barnett and his wife Mary Beth of Gulfport, MS and their children Wes Barnett and his wife Sarai of Lyndhurst, NJ (daughter Patrycja); Adam Barnett and his wife Elyse of Durham, NC (daughters Lily and Anna); Andrew Steiner of Boston, MA; Camille Heckmann of Pensacola, FL (children John Henry and Charlotte); Josh Barnett and his wife Kristel of Philadelphia, PA.

Sister: Carol Hanson of Dammeron Valley, UT and her children Ronald Hanson of Dammeron Valley, UT and Greg Hanson and his wife Debbie (children Erik, Angela, Phillip, Sonya, and Kaylie; grandchildren Ryder, Ethan, Cade, Camden, Wyatt, and Sunny) of Arkansas.

Sister-in-law: Le Barnett of Yuma, AZ.

Niece: Caryn Bivens and her husband Stephen (daughter Paige) of Columbus, MS

Great Nephew: Nick Tubb of Fayetteville, AR.

Great Niece: Alicia Johnson and her husband Ben (daughters Swayze and Kennedy) of Saltillo, MS.

The Barnett family would like to thank the staff at One Magnolia Place and St. Joseph’s Hospice for all the care and concern they provided Mr. Barnett.

Serving as pall bearers will be: Stephen Bivens, Andy Hubbard, Bill Moody, and Nick Tubb. Honorary pall bearers: The Members of Wesley United Methodist Church, Mr. Barnett’s grandchildren and Mac Moody.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Mission Fund of Wesley United Methodist Church at 511 Arline Road, Columbus, MS 39702.