George Franklin Barefield

George Franklin (Frank) Barefield, a resident of Dale County, between the Echo and Bertha Communities, died early Wednesday morning, March 29, 2017, in the UAB Hospital in Birmingham. He was 79. Memorial services, with military honors, will be held at 11:00 A.M. Saturday, April 1, 2017, in the Echo United Methodist Church with Reverend Tom Skeen officiating. Holman-Headland Mortuary & Cremations is in charge of arrangements. The family will receive friends from 10:00 until 11:00 A.M. Saturday in the church sanctuary. Flowers will be accepted or memorial contributions may be made to the Echo United Methodist Church, c/o Linda Ward, 12066 East Highway 27, Newville, AL 36353 or to the Echo Volunteer Fire & Rescue, P.O. Box 372, Ozark, AL 36361. Mr. Barefield was born and reared in the Bell's Crossroads community of Dale County, son of the late James Roscoe Barefield and Evie F. Bell Barefield. He served his country in the U. S. Marine Corps during the Korean War era and also served three tours of duty in the Vietnam War, where he received a Purple Heart. Mr. Barefield retired from the Marines as a First Sergeant and returned to Dale County in 1975. After retirement from the military, he was employed by BE&K as an OSHA inspector. Mr. Barefield was a member of the Echo United Methodist Church. He was preceded in death by a brother, James Barefield and a granddaughter Lesli Marie Yarberry. Surviving relatives include his wife, Vivian Long Barefield; three daughters, Sandy Yarberry (Buddy), Ozark; Tammy Parson (Marty), Echo; and Kelly Hughes (Bill), Stuart, FL; two sisters, Rachel Jenkins (James), Echo; and Mary Grantham, Dothan; a sister-in-law, Margie Barefield, Geneva, AL; ten grandchildren, Holly Yarberry (Josh), Chris Yarberry (Megan), Blake Parson, Brynn Whatley (Patrick), Kadin Whatley, Jackob Wright, Summer Wright, Matthew Hughes (Brittaney), Heather Hurst (Cody), and Sarah Jones (Kenton); eight great-grandchildren. Holman-Headland Mortuary & Cremations is in charge of arrangements. You may sign a guest register at www.holmanmortuaries.com.