E.J. Joe Barnes

Funeral services for E.J. Barnes, 90, of Cleburne, Texas, will be conducted at 10:00 A.M., Thursday, February 1, 2024, at Field Street Baptist Church with Dr. John Hall officiating.  

Interment will follow at Cleburne Memorial Cemetery with River Grant, Taylor Calahan, Justin Hewlett, Nathan Barnes, Russ Hollida, and Glenn Parr serving as pallbearers.  Honorary pallbearers will be Ben Hall, Grady Easdon, Terry Kelley, John Buerger, Chris Martin, Spencer Maples, and Walt Brown.  

Visitation will be held from 6-8:00 P.M., Wednesday, January 31, 2024, at Rosser Funeral Home.  E. J. Barnes passed away Friday, January 26, 2024, at his home with family.

E. J. was born on June 9, 1933, near Grandview, to Lewis Barnes and Mina Hudson Barnes. He graduated from Grandview High School in 1950.  He joked that his graduating class was so small that even though he was third in his class, he still didn’t make the top ten percent. He played football, baseball, basketball, and ran track. He worked hard in the fields of his father.

Upon graduation, he attended Brantley-Draughon Business School in Fort Worth, dropping out for full-time employment. He was promptly drafted in 1953 and joined the U. S. Army at age 19.  His overseas duty in Korea and Japan was as an anti-aircraft artillery gunner and squad leader.  He was discharged as a corporal and returned home to Grandview in 1955.  He met Larue Harper and they began dating. They married at Covington Baptist Church on August 31, 1957, and moved to Cleburne after their senior year in college.

 E J. attended Arlington State Junior College and earned Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees from Texas Wesleyan University. He later earned his principal and superintendent’s certification from Tarleton University. In 1961, he began teaching at Cleburne High School. His tenure included teaching social studies, serving as Wilson Housemaster, dean, and vice- principal. He retired in 1992, as Cleburne High School principal. During the early years he drove a school bus and refereed basketball games. He enjoyed deer hunting, fishing, golf, and spending time with his family.  He was a deacon and past trustee of Field Street Baptist Church, having joined the church in 1958. He was Sunday School superintendent, assisted the Spirit of Sharing ministry and was a member of the sanctuary choir for over 55 years.

E. J. was past president of Johnson-Somervell Retired School Employees and Cleburne Christian Business Club.

              He was preceded in death by his parents, Lewis and Mina Barnes, and siblings, Willie Elam, and Jim Barnes. 

            He is survived by his wife of 66 years, Larue; his daughter, Joni Melson (Jerry) and son, Bob Barnes (Tina), all residents of Cleburne; four grandchildren, Lauren Calahan (Taylor), Elyse Grant (River), Nathan Barnes, and Katie Barnes; two great-grandchildren, Landry Calahan and Caden Calahan; sister, Elizabeth Hewlett; and numerous nieces and nephews.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to Field Street Baptist Church in Cleburne.