Apr 24, 2008

Jimmy Edwin "Barney" Barnhart, son of the late Charley and Mary Marie (Lemons) Barnhart, was born on Oct. 4, 1936 in Plato, Mo., and passed away suddenly on Friday, April 18, 2008 at his home in Mtn. Grove, Mo., at 71 years of age. Jimmy grew up in the Mtn. Grove area and graduated from Mtn. Grove High School in 1955. Following graduation he entered the United States Navy and retired from a military career on Sept. 29, 1975 as an MRC. He was married to Wava Hicks in 1959, and two children were born to this union. They lived in Port Orchard, Wash., and moved to the Champion, Mo., area in 1986. Wava passed away in 2000. Jim was united in marriage to Carole (Coats) Callahan on Feb. 14, 2003 in Greenbrier, Ark. They made their home on 13th Street in Mtn. Grove for the past five years. Jim was a wonderful and caring husband, father, grandfather, brother, friend, and neighbor. He truly enjoyed his family and visiting with his many friends. He enjoyed bluegrass music, spending time with his family and watching high school sports that two special girls, Charlee and Danielle, participated in. He also liked all kinds of animals. At the time of his passing, Jim was attending the Emmanuel Baptist Church in Mtn. Grove and he had also attended Brushy Knob Church in Douglas County in the past. He was a member of the Skyline Fire Department and enjoyed being on bowling leagues. Besides his parents and his first wife, he was preceded in death by an infant son, Michael Barnhart; and by a sister, Nadine Douglas. He is survived by his loving wife, Carole Barnhart, of their home; one daughter, Tracy Baxter and her husband, Rick, of Bremerton, Wash.; two grandchildren, Taylor and Joey; three stepchildren, Tim Callahan and his wife, Jodi, of VanBuren, Ark., Michelle Callahan, of Mtn. Grove, and Tracy Ringling and her husband, Kevin, of St. Louis County, Mo.; nine step-grandchildren, Ty, Tanner and Zack Callahan, Brittany and Kiersten Billington, Ryan Miller, Jacob Willen, and Meghan and Jonathan Ringling; one brother: Alvin "Barney" Barnhart and his wife, Beverly, of Norwood, Mo.; one sister, Vivian Hacker and her husband, Mike, of Lone Jack, Mo.; and a host of other relatives, classmates, church family, and friends who will miss him very much. Funeral services were held Wednesday, April 23, 10 a.m., in the Craig-Hurtt Funeral Home with Rev. Wayne Cannon officiating. Iby and Ruth Edwards and John and Shirley Shores served as singers. Song selections were "Amazing Grace," "How Great Thou Art," and "Go Rest High On That Mountain." Pallbearers were Ryan Miller, Alan Barnhart, Jacob Willen, Dillon Cheney, Travis Cheney, Mike Hamby, Chris Mackey, Zack Callahan. Honorary pallbearers were Wes Smith, Joe Hamby, Tim Callahan, Kevin Ringling, Kenneth Coats, Wayne Coats, and Mike Hacker. Burial with full military honors with American Legion Post 30 and Navy Burial Team was in the New Hope Cemetery in Douglas County under the direction of the Craig-Hurtt Funeral Home, Mtn. Grove, Mo. Family requests, in lieu of flowers donations to Southwest Missouri Humane Society or the New Hope Cemetery Fund c/o the funeral home. Online condolences: www.craig hurttfuneralhome.com.