Helen Barnett

Helen Margaret Barnett, age 95, passed away peacefully while surround by family at her Dearing, Kansas, residence on October 10, 2020.

Helen was born on May 19, 1925 in Lathrop, Missouri to Bill and Bessie (Peterson) Mathes who preceded her in death. Helen grew up in a busy household with three siblings who have also preceded her in death:  Ruth Mathes Hartman, Jim Mathes, and Roseanna Mathes Irby.

In 1946, Helen started a 68-year journey with the love of her life, Lewis Wayne Barnett, when they were married in Troy, Kansas. Since family was always very important to Helen, she and Wayne were thrilled to add four children into their loving home:  Patricia Ann Rank of Elkhart, IN; Larry Wayne Barnett of Tulsa, OK; Stephen Neal Barnett (Deceased) and Claude David Barnett of Oklahoma.  Wayne preceded Helen in death in 2014.

When Helen wasn’t enjoying an evening playing bingo, spinning the slot machines at a casino, or knocking down bowling pins with the best of them, she took great pride in playing an active role in the lives of her eight grand-children and 15 great grand-children.  Even with her busy schedule, Helen always found time to welcome the entire family over for Sunday lunch or a holiday feast.  Without exception, these feasts featured some of the best southern cooking you’ll ever taste and a loving environment that has left a lasting influence on multiple generations of the Barnett family.

Friends are welcome to a visitation celebrating Helen’s life at 1:00 PM – 3:00 PM on Tuesday, October 13 at Ford-Wulf-Bruns Chapel at 2405 Woodland Avenue in Coffeyville, Kansas. To leave an online message of condolence for the family visit www.fordwulfbrunschapel.com