Jimmy Ellis Barnett

Jimmy Ellis Barnett, 81, passed away peacefully of natural causes on June 18th. He was born in Alvin on May 20th, 1940, the second of three boys, to Cleo Ellis Barnett and Winona Gibson Barnett. He lived in Alvin for most of his life except for his time at college and in the military. 
 
After graduating from Alvin High School in 1958, he attended Lamar University and then joined the Marine Corps in 1962. He was stationed at Camp Pendleton in San Diego, where he acquired a love of Beach Boys songs that he shared with his children daily later in life. After being honorably discharged as a corporal, he returned to Lamar University, and after graduation joined the family's heavy equipment construction company, Barnett & Sons, Inc., where he worked alongside his family for many years until his retirement.
 
As a father, Jim was always in the stands cheering on his children at football games, basketball games, track meets, gymnastics classes, and more, and would often bring homemade treats for the whole team. He was an avid reader of nonfiction and collector of antiques, historical documents, books, and art, and was a well-known customer at many bookstores and antique stores in southeast Texas and beyond. He also loved to collect bookends and would proudly show his latest finds to family and friends. He enjoyed helping others and could often be found running errands for elderly people in the community, and he was an all-star blood and plasma donor as long as he was able.  
 
Jim was preceded in death by his parents and his brother, Clarence Elmore Barnett. He is survived by his son Moriah Barnett; daughter Erica Bronwyn Barnett and son-in-law David Dolnick; granddaughter Fira Dolnick and grandson on the way; brother Carroll Barnett and sister-in-law Susie Barnett; sister-in-law Betty Barnett; nephews Douglas Barnett and wife Jennifer, Darrell Barnett and wife Marley, and Gary Barnett and wife Carol; niece Katherine (Katsie) Barnett; as well as numerous grandnieces, grandnephews, and cousins. 

The family would also like to thank Lila (Holst) Gaylor and Eden (Holst) Junell for their support during this time.

A funeral service is to be conducted at two o'clock in the afternoon on Monday, the 28th of June  at The Froberg Funeral Home at Oak Park.

Interment will follow at the Oak Park Cemetery in Alvin.

Jim spent most of his life taking care of other people, and now may he rest in peace.  

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