1920
Ethel
2015
Ethel Mae Barnett
September 13, 1920 — January 28, 2015
Ethel Barnett
Sept. 13, 1920 - Jan. 28, 2015
Ethel Mae Barnett died Wednesday, Jan. 28, 2015 at home in Monmouth, Oregon with her family around her. She was 94.
Ethel was born Sept. 13, 1920 in Brooklyn, Iowa to Edward and Eva Mae Breneman, the youngest of seven children. She graduated from Brooklyn High School in 1938 and from nursing school at Iowa Lutheran Hospital in Des Moines in 1942.
Ethel served as a 2nd Lieutenant in the U.S. Army Medical Corps from January, 1943 to May, 1944 at Fort Warren in Cheyenne, Wyoming.
She married Army Air Corps Lt. Clarence Vernon Barnett Jan. 7, 1944 in Cheyenne. Soon after, Clarence flew his B-17 from Great Falls, Montana and landed the four-engine bomber on the local field in Brooklyn, Iowa to meet his new bride's parents. The local newspaper heralded the event that gave "hundreds of citizens of the vicinity a huge thrill and treat."
Ethel and Clarence had five children: Dean (1944); Clark (1946); Kevin (1950); Galen (1951) and Diane (1961). Ethel cared for the children and held down the household, following Clarence to radar stations around the country, including in Montgomery, Ala.; Burns, Corvallis and Eugene, Ore.; Alamogordo, New Mexico; The Philippines; Tacoma, Wash. and Phoenix, Ariz.
Clarence retired from the Air Force at Luke Air Force Base in Arizona in 1968 and the family soon moved back to Oregon. Clarence and Ethel spent most of their retirement in Coos Bay. Ethel and Clarence were members of Emanuel Episcopal Church in Coos Bay. She was active in Eastern Star and Daughters of the Nile, working extensively with Job's Daughters.
Clarence and Ethel moved to Independence, Oregon, across the road from their daughter Diane and family, in 2004. Clarence died in 2008. Ethel joined St. Hilda's Episcopal Church in Independence and was an honorary member of Upsilon Master Beta Sigma Phi. She was a regular at C Street Salon in Independence where she was known as "Miss Ethel."
Ethel is survived by her sister, Eva McCracken (of Minnesota); her children; daughters-in-law Marilyn, Erin and Connie; grandchildren Ryan, Aaron, Trevor, Colin, Michele, Andrew, Courtney and Cole, and 13 great grandchildren.
On her wall, near her bed, Ethel had posted a saying:
"Life should not be a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in an attractive and well-preserved body, but rather to skid in sideways, chocolate in one hand, wine in the other, totally worn out and screaming D---, what a ride!"
A memorial service for Ethel will be Saturday, Feb. 21 at 3:30 pm at St. Hilda's Episcopal Church, 245 Main Street West, Monmouth, 97361. The family suggests donations to The Shriner's Children's Hospital in Portland or Wounded Warriors, in lieu of flowers.
Sept. 13, 1920 - Jan. 28, 2015
Ethel Mae Barnett died Wednesday, Jan. 28, 2015 at home in Monmouth, Oregon with her family around her. She was 94.
Ethel was born Sept. 13, 1920 in Brooklyn, Iowa to Edward and Eva Mae Breneman, the youngest of seven children. She graduated from Brooklyn High School in 1938 and from nursing school at Iowa Lutheran Hospital in Des Moines in 1942.
Ethel served as a 2nd Lieutenant in the U.S. Army Medical Corps from January, 1943 to May, 1944 at Fort Warren in Cheyenne, Wyoming.
She married Army Air Corps Lt. Clarence Vernon Barnett Jan. 7, 1944 in Cheyenne. Soon after, Clarence flew his B-17 from Great Falls, Montana and landed the four-engine bomber on the local field in Brooklyn, Iowa to meet his new bride's parents. The local newspaper heralded the event that gave "hundreds of citizens of the vicinity a huge thrill and treat."
Ethel and Clarence had five children: Dean (1944); Clark (1946); Kevin (1950); Galen (1951) and Diane (1961). Ethel cared for the children and held down the household, following Clarence to radar stations around the country, including in Montgomery, Ala.; Burns, Corvallis and Eugene, Ore.; Alamogordo, New Mexico; The Philippines; Tacoma, Wash. and Phoenix, Ariz.
Clarence retired from the Air Force at Luke Air Force Base in Arizona in 1968 and the family soon moved back to Oregon. Clarence and Ethel spent most of their retirement in Coos Bay. Ethel and Clarence were members of Emanuel Episcopal Church in Coos Bay. She was active in Eastern Star and Daughters of the Nile, working extensively with Job's Daughters.
Clarence and Ethel moved to Independence, Oregon, across the road from their daughter Diane and family, in 2004. Clarence died in 2008. Ethel joined St. Hilda's Episcopal Church in Independence and was an honorary member of Upsilon Master Beta Sigma Phi. She was a regular at C Street Salon in Independence where she was known as "Miss Ethel."
Ethel is survived by her sister, Eva McCracken (of Minnesota); her children; daughters-in-law Marilyn, Erin and Connie; grandchildren Ryan, Aaron, Trevor, Colin, Michele, Andrew, Courtney and Cole, and 13 great grandchildren.
On her wall, near her bed, Ethel had posted a saying:
"Life should not be a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in an attractive and well-preserved body, but rather to skid in sideways, chocolate in one hand, wine in the other, totally worn out and screaming D---, what a ride!"
A memorial service for Ethel will be Saturday, Feb. 21 at 3:30 pm at St. Hilda's Episcopal Church, 245 Main Street West, Monmouth, 97361. The family suggests donations to The Shriner's Children's Hospital in Portland or Wounded Warriors, in lieu of flowers.
To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Ethel Mae Barnett, please visit our flower store.
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