Janet Barrett
January 9, 1933 - March 3, 2021
Sanger, California - Born in Canton, Ohio on January 9, 1933, Janet was the daughter of Eva Charlene and William Robert Butler.
Janet, her mother and sister, Caroline lived in Canton until 1944 when they traveled by troop train to Marysville, California where Janet's mom married Andrew, O'Brien.
Janet graduated from Marysville grammar school, Marysville high school and Yuba college before transferring to California State College at Chico majoring in business education and graduated with a bachelor of arts degree and general secondary credential in 1956. While attending college Janet work summers as a fruit packer for the D'Georgio fruit packing Company and for Del Monte canning peaches. During the college terms she was employed as a kitchen maid, receiving room and board for W.T. Ellis, an innovator and engineer of the Marysville/Yuba County levee system.
Janet and Clair were married on July 27, 1956 on the same day that Clair graduated from CSUC. While Clair was finishing the credential program at CSUC, Janet taught for one year in the business department at Paradise highschool, Paradise, CA. The summer following, Janet worked as a secretary and assistant for Earl Stanley Gardner, author of Perry Mason books and series on television. They moved the following year to Selma, California where Janet began teaching business education subjects for the Selma high school district in 1958 and the following year for the Sanger school district. Their son Brad was born in 1959 and son Robert 1963. Janet substitute taught for the Sanger high school system until 1970 and then continued full-time in the business education department until retirement in 1991.
Janet and Clair spent a year in 1967-68 in Canterbury, Great Britain where Clair taught on a Fulbright teacher exchange program. During that time many lasting friendships ensued that fulfilled the purpose of fostering international relations. Janet's love for travel began at this time; especially for Paris, a city she loved and strongly encouraged family and friends to visit.
As a member of Sanger community Church since 1958, Janet participated in innumerable Bible studies and special programs offered by her church and served as a deacon on three separate occasions.
Janet was pre-deceased in death by her mother in 1996, her sister in 2017 and her husband, Clair in 2005. She is survived by her sons Bradley Glenn and his wife Kaye and their daughter Cristina Barrett and her son Christopher, and their son Jacob Hermanson. Robert Clair and his wife Phoebe. Grandchildren; Westley; Ryane and Evan Baird and their children, Reese and Easton; Rebekah and Aaron Breeze and their son, Benjamin; and Ronnie Barrett. Additionally: sister, Melanie O'Brien; brothers Andrew Michael and wife Connie O'Brien, and Patrick O'Brien. Brother-in-law: James E Sanders; nephews: Joel Sanders and wife Kristine (Danica and Dhillon), Curtis Sanders and wife Diana (Matthew and wife and Mitchell); Karl Sanders and wife Suzie (Samantha and Benjamin.)
Janet would also like to remember with fondness Eloise Jackson, Judy Lotspeich, Ardelle Walker, Jan Newport and Karen Nichols for their enduring friendships.
Memorial service at Sanger community Church on Thursday, March 11, 2021 at 11:30, Followed with a luncheon in the fellowship hall.

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Published by Fresno Bee on Mar. 7, 2021.

Memories and Condolences
for Janet Barrett

5 Entries

Joshua

June 21, 2024

She was Jerry´s mom in 1979 in Sanger high school now it´s called wams

Natalie Cruz

May 21, 2021

Deepest condolences to the family. I had the privilege of going to Europe with her and Mr. Barrett...they made the high school trip so fun. Both were great teachers and will be missed undoubtedly.
Natalie Ramirez-Cruz
Class of 1986

Larry Powell

March 8, 2021

Jan was a wonderful teacher, friend, and colleague at Sanger High School. She always had a big smile and a positive attitude. She lived her Christian testimony and Clair eventually joined her in the faith. Both were tremendous educators and had such a powerful impact on the Sanger community. Her loss marks the end of an important era in the community. She will be missed. Blessings to the family. Larry Powell, Fresno County Superintendent, (ret.)

Robert Newport

March 7, 2021

My wife was eleven years old when she met Janet and her family as they began a Fulbright year in the UK; I had to wait until 1983. We stayed with them for a few days en route home to the UK after a secondment to the Los Alamos National Laboratory: I liked them from the day of our first meeting. I recognised in Janet one of the kindest, most generous people I had known. She was a remarkable woman: such clarity of thought, such strength of character - born of her faith, a faith I share. I look forward to meeting her again in a place with neither pain nor tears.

Jan Newport

March 7, 2021

I met Janet in 1967 when she and Clair, Brad and Bob were spending a year in Canterbury, England. We have been close friends ever since, even with 5,000 miles between us. Janet had a wonderful way of making you feel cared for and loved. We visited each other's homes over the years and neither distance nor time interrupted our friendship.
Janet was a very special person, kind and thoughtful and a joy to be with. I will miss her. Thank God she is with Him now and out of pain.
May the Lord bless and keep all those left behind.

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