Jesse Howard Barnett
August 24, 1924 - September 2, 2007
Obituary
Jesse Howard Barnett; a fisherman, an author, an outdoorsman, a hunter, a cribbage player, a family man, but how he would like to be remembered – a man who walked with God.
He was born, Sunday, August 24, 1924, in Lawrence City, Indiana. At the age of 16 he worked in the CC Camps. At age 17, in January of 1942, he joined the Navy. Decked out in his Navy uniform, he met Eva in Seattle, WA, and proposed to her 2 days later. They were married December 8th, 1942.
He distinguished himself in the Navy, serving 12.5 years in the submarine service and fighting in two wars. He later settled in Fall City, WA, with his family where he built his home and resided until 1990. After retiring from his job as a Puget Power line foreman, he took up residence in Centralia, WA, where he was a member of Mount View Baptist church.
Jesse walked into the presence of God, Sunday, September 2, 2007, after losing a long battle with Alzheimer’s. He leaves behind a heritage of faith to his wife, Eva, of 64 ½ years, 5 children, 16 grandchildren, 10 great grandchildren, 2 sisters and 1 brother.
A Shelter service is scheduled for 1:00 PM, September 10, 2007 at Tahoma National Cemetery in Kent, Washington
We invite you all to a gathering to be held after the Memorial Service at the home of Larry Barnett:
24533 SE 133rd
Issaquah, WA 98027
In lieu of flowers please make donations to:
Alzheimer’s Foundation of America
322 8th Ave., 7th Fl.
New York, NY 10001
Dearest Eva,
How we rejoice with you that Howard stands in the presence of His Lord and Saviour this very moment! Yet, we also know the sadness of missing him as you do.
We have so many delightful memories of Howard. He was never Jesse to us because of the way you introduced him to us. He didn’t seem to mind that we called him Howard. He was so truly proud of his family and loved you, dear, Eva, with every fiber of his being. It was always evident to everyone that knew the two of you. His respect and love for you always blessed me and made me love him all the more. Howard had a great sense of humor and always made our visits with the the two of you fun and entertaining. He had his serious side too, especially when he spoke of his years spent in the Navy during WW 11. I loved hearing him tell the stories and could picture him as one of our finest and bravest men in uniform.
I remember when you and Howard were looking for a location to build your new home after you sold the place in Fall City and how you prayed for the place God would have for you. Howard was so careful to think of you when the day might come that you would be living without him. He wanted to provide a home for you where you would be safe, would have a bus line to get around on and it would be convenient for you to get to shopping and medical appointments. I also remember you asking the Lord for propery that would have some “old growth” trees and shrubs as you wanted them to be enjoyable then, not having to wait for them to come into full growth. The Lord answered with the property He gave you in Centralia so Howard and your son’s could build the beautiful home you have now. The Lord was careful to answer your specific prayer about the tree’s and shrubs too!
We don’t know the next step the Lord has for you now, Eva, but He has been faithful to keep watch over you while Howard was being cared for at the Life Care Center. He has given you faithful and loving family and friends to care for you in Howard’s absence these past few years. Howard knew what he was doing in asking the Lord for a place that your needs would be met when he couldn’t physically be there for you any longer. He was an outstanding provider, protector, husband and father as well as grandfather.
I’ve heard it said that the most important thing a man can do for his children is to love their mother….and Howard certainly learned from the Lord how to do that!
Howard’s love of God, his love of family, and his love of friends made him a dear and special man to us as well as many, many others. He was a good man and I know you love Howard with all of you heart, Eva. You have honored Howard as the Lord would have a wife honor her husband, and He has blessed you for that and will continue blessing you.
Thank you for modeling what God’s plan for marriage should look like and for being a willing vessel for God’s love to flow through.
We look forward to seeing Howard again in glory!
“We love you, but God loves you even more. He loves you so much He never takes His eyes off of you.”
Lonny and Al Landin
I agree totally with Linda Murphy, Eva! He was a wonderful godly man and now he is with Jesus! You, Eva, are an inspiration to us all. You are a perfect example of a very godly woman! I love you.
My Greatest memories of my Grandfather are all of the wonderful outdoor adventures we shared. Like Fishing, Hunting and sitting around the campfire just enjoying everyones company. I will miss him very much.
I get a chuckle whenever I think about Grandpa Barnett. He used to love to tease me and I used to pretend to get so annoyed but I truely enjoyed every minute I spent in his presence. I will miss him dearly.
I first met Jess & Eva when they started attending Mountain View Church and what a delightful couple they were! It was very evident that Jess loved his Eva and oh what a sense of humor he had! He always had a joke to tell or a song to sing. How we missed him when he had to move away. It is good to know that he is home at last basking by the Jasper Sea where there are no more tears in the presence of our Savior. It has been a privilege for me to get to know Eva – I have learned so much about sacrificial love, faithfulness and joy in the midst of tough times. What a saint! Her love for Jess, family and her God has been an inspiration and encouragement to those of us who call her friend!
I am sad, mostly that I never got to know Grandpa well. I prayed and hoped that there would come a cure or God would heal the Alzheimer’s. But alas, God had other plans. I rejoice in the fact that I will see him again and in a new light, when I also go to Christ’s open arms.
I never called him Jesse he was always dad to me. He was the greatest father. He was always there for me. My greatest memories of dad are camping and fishing. He taught me to enjoy the calm of the water at the early hours of the morning. Sitting in a boat out on the water as we watched the sun come up.
Dad taught me the love of poetry.
Dad was also known for walking his grandchildren for hours on end when they were sick. Singing them to sleep when the rest of us could not. He would pray for all of his children, grand children and great grand children diligently.
I am sorry you had to suffer with Alzheimers’ for so long. Thank you for being so patient with us during that time.
Dad I am so happy that you are resting in the arms of Jesus now. Looking forward to seeing you there someday.
Love Rainy
What a giant of a godly man! I only knew him as reflected by those close to him. But the man they reflected was an extraordinary man. Their love and esteem for him was only part of the picture: their love for others and their enjoyment and contentment in life must bear his resemblance. And they all love the Savior the same way he did.
Remarks for dad’s memorial service: Welcome to this final tribute to both honor and say farewell to our father and friend, Jesse Howard Barnett. Do to the short time allowed in this setting, these comments will be brief and the point. My mother, Eva requested this moment be used to ask each one here to examine his and her heart to see if you are ready to make this same journey dad has made to spend an eternity with our Creator, Jesus Christ. The Scripture says, “Without faith it is impossible to please God. For whoever would draw near to God, must believe that He exists and rewards those who diligently seek Him.” Dad’s faith was first demonstrated, when he wrestled with God to give Kenny, his son back. Doctors had told mom and dad that their two year old son would die before the years end. It was at one of many hospital visits that dad prayed, “If you heal my son, I will raise him to know you.” This was a defining moment in dad’s life. Dad didn’t know God; how could he teach his son about God? Dad had to make major changes in his life if he was going to keep his part of the bargin . Here he became a Christian. He benefitted from God’s forgiveness for his sins; he stoped drinking; he started reading the Bible; he started attending church regularly. Both dad and ken went through changes. Ken got better, stronger, lived, dad got acquainted with God. Looking back forty years, those who knew Jesse witnessed the transformation; his bby steps toward God became regular steps all the way to the presence of Gpd on September 2, 2007. It is pnly fitting to ask you today, how is your faith? Have you taken any steps toward God? you are either walking closer to Him or your walking away. God loves you. God is seeking you. What will God have to do to get your attention? In Jesse’s life it was allowing his last born to become deathly ill. Let this funeral service be sufficent reason to consider God and to begin taking steps towards Him. Your first step could be to ask God to forgive your sins and to accept his only Son Jesus Christ. Jesus is just a conversation away. In closing, I read a poem written by Jesse, raising these same questions. His work is entitled, “An Awakening” In my quest to gain riches and pleasures of this earth I forgot the ones that loved me and the ones that gave me birth. I used those who could help me in my ever upward climb thinking someday I would make it and life would be sublime. Like the man in Asop’s fable, who flew to close to the sun; we all must face the downward journey when life on earth is done. Oh, as these these hearts I have broken, and I stand to face my God; I shall stand before Him naked and see my riches burn; as I stand there in all my wisdom, my nakedness try to hide; I shall see the blood from His hands, and see the blood from His side. I hear a voice from haven say, “It was for you My Son died! Now, as it is written, for my word are ever true; I must close the gates to heaven and not let you through! You denied My Son while living and that is a moral sin. You must forever dwell with your father, Satan for eternity in hell.” Now as I stand before Him, too late to forgive my sin; I saw the hearts I dad broken, I had broken once again. –Jesse H. Barnett
I met Jesse 30 years ago; he nudged me into marriage of his daughter Rain, he said to me, “If you love Rain, tell her and if you don’t love her tell her that, but stop making her cry.” The weekend I asked him for his daughter’s hand, Mount St. Helen blew her stack. I enjoyed living in his home in 1982 with my wife and daughter, Jessica, prior to joining the Army. I always felt love from Jesse, I decided to reside close to his home, so that my three children would have exposure to a godly heritage…. the last five and half years were difficult, but special also, I had a chance to love back; no two visits to the nursing home were the same. I liked taking dad to the park. driving by old navy ships. One last memory happened two years ago; it December 8th, Mom was at our house was all giddy about going out to visit dad; she put together some treats to share with dad; mom had all the fixins to make this sixty something anniversary special; I drove her to the bus stop and wished her will on this celebration. The celebration was not to be. Mom got on the wrong bus. The sigh in the bus window said Federal Wwy; it should of said Graham. The bus driver had failed to change his sign. Mom never made it to the nursing home that anniversary; it was a sad day, a sad memory, a memory I will never forget.
I love you dad
love art
To me he was the ideal grandpa. He had this special rocking chair that was known that only he and his dog pebbles could lay in; and if you ever got asked to come sit on his lap and have him sing to you was as if time had stopped and for that moment heaven was on earth. Grandpa had these ways of relating to people. John Wayne became my favorite because that was what he watched. My first time fishing with him I was so nervous because I wanted to do it right. I caught a 4 incher, I was disappointed but he told me that he couldn’t be more proud. He was a man that had my respect. He lived with integrity and even till his last days there was never a time that I couldn’t see the love of Jesus singing out! Forever will grandpa be the man of my life.
My grandfather shared a life of passion wisdom and remarkable love. I had the opportunity to adventure out on one of grandpas last fishing trips. His friend west and myself spent the day with grandpa out on rife lake. It was a sunny day and all three of us were extremely excited for the lunch grandma had packed for us that day. As we reached the middle of the lake grandpa, west and myself casted out. Grandpa instantly raked in a 2 pounder. He was laughing from the heart and one fish would soon turn into 6 by the end of the day. After every one he didnt say a word, for he really did not need to. It was his day to shine it was a glorified moment were the spotlight was on him and every second in which I shared with him on that boat I have been blessed to remember for the rest of my life. After that day I have fished dozens of times and have not been able to catch a fish. Its as if its grandpas way of letting me remember that day out on the lake, that day were the sun shined, grandpa laughed, west cried in happiness, and I smiled because I knew this was something special; a divine moment delivered by God to inspire love through heart felt laughter and tears of joy.
As Ray Boltz put it, “Thank you for giving to the Lord…I am a life that was changed.”
. . .I praise Jesus today because you can once again remember those of us you loved so much.