Obituaries

James Franklin Barnett Sr.

Photo of James Franklin Barnett Sr.
James Franklin Barnett Sr., age 91, of Batesville, died October 5, 2017, at his home. He was born February 28, 1926, in Batesville, and was the son of I.N. Barnett III and Catharine Robertson Barnett. Barnett attended Arkansas College and graduated from the University of Arkansas. He was a member of the Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity. Barnett served in the United States Army Air Force. He was president of Barnett Brothers Department Store in Batesville. He raised Black Angus cattle and helped manage his family's farmland and timberland. In his own words Barnett said, "it has been a great pleasure to have participated in the management of some of the most fertile and productive farmland, timberland, and pastureland in the world. A large part of the pleasure has been due to my association and friendship with the families that lived and worked on the land." In the past he owned Barnett Equipment Company, the John Deere dealership in Batesville. Jim felt he was blessed with a long, healthy life that enabled him to take part in many community improvement efforts. He served as mayor of Batesville from 1991-1995. He was a member of the Glass Club and Kiwanis Club, serving the latter as president and Lt. Governor. He was a volunteer at the Old Independence Regional Museum, and served on numerous community boards and committees. He was a lifelong member of First United Methodist Church, where he enjoyed the camaraderie of the Progressive Sunday School Class. Jim was an avid outdoorsman and naturalist who knew the Independence County region intimately and appreciated its diverse habitats encompassing the Black River bottomland, the White River and the Ozark uplands. In his own words, "I am likely the only person living that has seen all of the White River, including the part that is covered by Bull Shoals Lake. I have almost certainly floated, waded, and fished more of the streams, creeks, bayous, lakes, and sloughs in Independence County and the surrounding counties than any person that ever lived. It has been a blessing to have lived in a place of so much diversity, from the cypress breaks in the river bottoms, to the pine woods and cedar breaks in our hills." Barnett was preceded in death by his parents; by his wife, Lois Fallis Barnett; and by his son, Robertson Fallis "Bob" Barnett. Survivors include one son, James F. Barnett Jr. and wife Sharon of Natchez, Mississippi; daughter, Susan Churchill Barnett Matinchek and husband Henry of Batesville; grandchildren, James Franklin Matinchek and Callie Margaret Matinchek; sister, Carol Barnett Robertson, brothers, Ira Nelson Barnett and his wife Sandra, and Charles R. Barnett and his wife Betty all of Batesville. The Barnett family would like to thank his caregivers: Gail Harmon, Lynnsey Thatch, Sharon Moore, Caring Hands Hospice, and the others who took such loving care of him. We would also like to thank Tucker Thatch for bringing him joy in his last years. The family will receive friends from 3-5 p.m. Sunday, October 8 at the Barnett Farm, 75 Barball Ln., off Hwy, 25. A memorial service will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Monday, October 9 at First United Methodist Church, 615 E. Main St. in Batesville. Memorials may be made to the Old Independence Regional Museum, 380 S 9th St., Batesville, Ark. 72501 or the charity of your choice. www.rollerfuneralhomes.com/batesville.

Published October 7, 2017

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