Harold (Hal) Lee Barnett

Harold (Hal) Lee Barnett passed away near his home in Russellville May 9, surrounded by loved ones.

He was born in Gilroy, Calif., to Reeder and Letha Barnett May 31, 1938. He had three siblings, Howard, Sue and Mickey. His family moved to Alabama and then Arkansas, where he graduated from T.A. Futrell. Later he joined the Marine Corps, where he earned an honorable discharge. He attended college in Los Angeles, Calif., where he earned a degree in civil engineering and began a successful career in construction. His company built the landing runways for some of the first Space Shuttles at Edwards Air Force Base and a few of the major freeways around the Los Angeles area.

He met and married Susan Pierre, and they had two sons, David and Eric. After their separation, he continued working in the Los Angeles area until moving to Sacramento in 1985, where he met and married Deborah Lynn Barnett. In 1987 they moved to Russellville to be near his parents. They were separated in 2014.

Hal passed as he lived, privately, quietly and loved. He will be remembered by all who knew him as a kind and intelligent man with a passion for knowledge, books, animals, the garden he loved so well and for the lovely birds he so diligently fed for many years. He will be greatly missed.

A private graveside service was held May 13 at the Barnett Cemetery near Lexington.

He was predeceased by his parents, Reeder H. Barnett and Letha Hammond Barnett; son, David Scott Barnett; and sister, Sue Barnett Pilgrim.

He is survived by his former wife Deborah Barnett; his former wife, Susan Pierre; son, Eric Barnett; step-children, Cobahn Hedge and wife Heather and Valerie Hedge; his daughter-in-law, Ying Barnett; his brothers, Howard Barnett and wife Ann and Mickey Barnett; and his brother-in-law, Fred Pilgrim.