Obituary of Edward Elmer Barnes

Edward Elmer Barnes, 89, went to be with Jesus January 4, 2005 at his home in Olympia, WA. His passing was a relief from suffering but peaceful at the end. Final words of encouragement, easing him into the next phase of eternal life, were given him by his oldest son Darvin (Judy), of Olympia. With his last breaths, his daughter, Marcia (Harold) Stuart, of Lacey, WA, sang to him his two favorite songs, “We Shall Behold Him” and “In The Garden.” Other surviving sons are Donald (Carolyn), Robert, Sr. and Rodney (Pat), of Olympia. His youngest sister, Katie (Bill) Miller, of Fransisco, IN, and many nieces and nephews, survive Edward. Grandchildren surviving are Heidi Murray, Charles, Tammy Gordon, Mark Stuart, Brenda Stuart-Yonemura, Deanna Kaiser, Sean, Brooke, Robert Paul Jr, Michelle McViker, Rhonda Urbanik, Michelle Baxter, Charlene Sponsel, Leah Kelly, Joshua, Dianna, Aaron, Nathan, Torry Iyall and Nick Ames. Edward has 22 great-grandchildren, who live in Alaska, Arizona, Idaho, Virginia, Texas and Washington. His parents preceded Edward in death, as did his brother Walter, sisters Pauline, Beulah Mae, two infant girls and an infant granddaughter, Cheryl Ann Barnes. His first wife Anna Mae Hurst Barnes Willey, the mother of his children, died in 1997. Thomas Elmer Barnes and Clara Lizzie Roth married and gave birth to Edward Feb. 5, 1915, in Booneville, IN, and later to his siblings, Pauline Hawkins, Walter, Buelah Mae DeBoard and Katie Miller. Growing up in southern Indiana, Edward worked on the farm beside his Dad and other farmers. He was especially good with animals. Edward finished ninth grade but hard times forced him to find work to help with the financial needs of the family. After his marriage to Anna Mae Hurst, in 1935, they operated a small service station. Later he became a tool and die maker. His skills were in high demand across the United States necessitating many moves with his expanding family. His tooling skills were so highly valued that he was exempted from the military during the war. Edward was a founding partner with his brother-in-law, Leslie Hurst, in a machine shop, Hurst Tool and Die, now Emerson Electric, Princeton, IN. Edward served in a number of Nazarene Churches as Sunday school teacher and Superintendent, choir and board member over the years. He was skilled in auto mechanics as well as the building trades and built or remodeled more homes than he could remember. He also worked as a Real Estate broker and property manager in Chandler, AZ and managed several mobile home parks in Arizona and Florida. His favorite place to live was Arizona. Edward was a very determined and strong willed man. Even after having a major stroke in 1994, which left his right side nearly useless and speech impaired, he still maintained his home, cleaning gutters, throwing gravel on the yard, planting, and painting. He even sheetrocked his garage by himself, designing a tool that held the sheets of sheetrock in place while he nailed them. At age 84, with one hand, he built a brick stairs and porch landing by himself. He was skilled in many areas and was a perfectionist in his work. Edward loved to play the piano, violin, guitar, and accordion. In his early years, he and his dad would play their violins and guitars or “squeeze box” for community dances. He would also play violin with his wife’s grandfather, Robert Adkins, while sitting on the front porch. Neighbors enjoyed the live music. Singing, and playing cards were among his favorite activities and he was an accomplished dancer. His favorite was the polka and his “dance card” was always full at the Senior Center as he had many ladies waiting to dance with him. They said he was the smoothest dancer! Edward always enjoyed traveling and lived in Indiana, California, Arizona, Florida, Texas, Oregon, and finally Washington. He drove many cars and RVs across nearly every state at one time or another. There were many fun stories associated with those trips. Bargain shopping was another favorite activity. He so enjoyed shopping for a great deal that he will be remembered by many for buying canned goods and fruit or bread in quantity, only to give it away to family and friends. Dessert was his favorite food and sometimes was his meal. The many friends he made during the last two years at The Sequoia Retirement Facility will miss “Ed” and have commented on his bright smile and cheerfulness. The family wishes to thank those friends and staff who cared for him and watched over him. Edward nearly lived to be ninety. His family will celebrate his birthday Feb. 5, 2005 to honor him with memories of his life. Please call for details. At his request, Edward’s remains will be cremated and interred next to his parents and three of his siblings in Indiana.