Oklahoman Archives
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma County, Oklahoma
February 5, 2010

Jack Earnest Barnes, Jr. of Choctaw , Oklahoma went to be with his maker on February 2, 2010. He was born on November 25, 1950 in Hugo, Oklahoma.

Jack is survived by his loving wife of 28 years Mary Ellen Richardson Barnes of the home; and his beloved daughters Leigh-Ann Kidney and husband Steven of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, Jennifer Beattie and husband William of Norman, Oklahoma; a brother Wid William Barnes of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma; sisters Nancy Lindamood and husband Arthur and Brenda Weatherford and husband Gerald of Hugo, Oklahoma; father Bill Grant of Hugo, Oklahoma. He is also survived by 7 nieces and nephews, Kristinia Fischer, Chad Weatherford, Shelly Wall, Amanda Bazor, Michael Lindamood, Marcie Lindamood, Scott Lindamood; and numerous other relatives and friends. He was preceded in death by his mother Jaurez Marie Grant; dad Jack Earnest Barnes; and nephew Tim Weatherford. Jack graduated from Hugo High School in 1969. He was FFA President his senior year and Vice President his junior year. In 1969 he was awarded the State Farmer Degree.

He attended Oklahoma State University and earned a Bachelor's of Science in Agriculture Education in 1975. While attending OSU he was a member of livestock judging team. He taught Agriculture Education for over 30 years including the last 20 years at Choctaw High School. His FFA chapters have won numerous awards including National and State Gold Emblem Chapter awards. Many of his students received their State Farmer Degrees and participated and won many livestock shows including having the Grand Champion Steer in 1993 at the Oklahoma 4-H and FFA Junior Livestock Show. His passion was working with his students to instill responsibility and the drive to succeed in their future endeavors. During his childhood Jack developed his love for agriculture and working with cattle on the family ranch.

Jack was a devoted father and loved his children. He enjoyed spending time teaching them the joys of agriculture by caring for and showing cattle. He and his wife enjoyed traveling across the western states visiting historic sites and national parks. Jack was well respected in the community and will be greatly missed.

Services will be held at the First Baptist Church of Choctaw on Saturday, February 6 at 2:00 pm. The family will be receiving friends at Hibbs Funeral Home in Choctaw on Friday from 6 pm to 8 pm.

Mary Ellen (Richardson) Barnes, age 70, of Blanchard, Oklahoma, passed away peacefully on February 12th at the OU Medical Center. Her family and friends knew her as "Mary", or "Mary Ellen". She was preceded in death by her parents, Walter "Dick" and Claire Richardson, her beloved husband Jack Barnes, her sisters, Mary Ann Moore, Elaine Bentley Hanner, nephew Russell Richardson Bentley, and her great-nephew, Jackson Wade English.

Mary graduated from Midwest City High School in 1969 and went on to graduate from the University of Oklahoma with a bachelor's degree in Education. She later attended and graduated with her Master's degree from East Central State University 1994. She taught Home Economics at Wilson High School in Wilson, Oklahoma from 1977 until 1993, and then served as a counselor at Kelly Elementary in Moore, Oklahoma from 1994 until she retired in 2011. Mary was a dedicated teacher and counselor, touching many children's lives throughout her career. She was also a survivor of lung and breast cancer. She definitely knew how to fight like a girl.