Carol A. Barnes

Carol A. Barnes, 80, of Sedalia passed away on July 13, 2020. She was born February 16, 1940, in Marshall, MO to Walter E. Smith and Beulah A. (James) Smith, both of whom preceded her in death.
Carol attended grade schools in or near Buckner and graduated as salutatorian of her class in 1958 in the first class to attend all four years at Fort Osage High School.
After high school, Mrs. Barnes attended Central Missouri State College (now UCM) in Warrensburg, graduating with a master's degree in vocal music and directing.
She then taught in the Independence, MO school district, and while teaching there met Mary Louise Barnes Waldrep, the sister of her future husband, Donald Barnes, who introduced her to Barnes, then a practicing lawyer in Sedalia. They were married at Stone Church in Independence on June 14, 1964.
After moving to Sedalia in 1964, Carol taught music one year in the Knob Noster, MO schools and then became the first vocal music teacher at the newly opened State Fair Community College in Sedalia. In the absence of vocal music facilities at the new college, often called Ply-wood U., she provided singing lessons in her home for college credit for SFCC students.
Mrs. Barnes then went on to become widely known in Sedalia as a soloist for 49 years in the annual Messiah performance sponsored by the Sedalia Symphony Society, a member of the Sedalia Symphony Board of Directors, President of the Helen G. Steele Music Club where she also directed the club choir for many years, director of her church choir, frequent soloist at local churches, and presented programs at local civic clubs and events in and around the Sedalia and Independence areas.
It was only seven hours after Mrs. Barnes provided the Sedalia Rotary Club Christmas program in 1965, that she gave birth to the Barnes' first child, Donald Gregory Barnes, at Bothwell Hospital, their Christmas present to themselves and an unexpected tax deduction for 1965. The Barnes family expanded again on their wedding anniversary in 1968 when their second son, Mark Erin Barnes, was born on June 14, 1968.
Carol proved to be an effective political advocate for her husband when he was first elected Circuit Judge in 1976. She went door-to-door campaigning with him in Pettis and Cooper Counties including during a sleet storm in Bunceton on the Monday evening before the November election the following day. For the next 29 years, she campaigned for and supported her husband, Judge Barnes, until he retired from full-time service in 2005.
Carol was very active in her church, Community of Christ.  She served as an Elder and was Pastor from 1996-2000. She also served in many capacities including Sunday school teacher, newsletter editor, women's leader, and director of adult and children's choirs.  She had been a member of the Pettis County Minister's Association, served as a chaplain at Bothwell Regional Health Center, and was a longtime active member of Church Women United from whom she received the Valiant Woman award.
Carol Barnes was one of six children born to her parents – Joseph W. Smith who died in 2013, John A. Smith who died in 2006, Willard F. Smith (Dianne) of Omaha, NE, Elsa Mae Brooks (Albert) of Mt. Joy, PA, and James A. Smith (Brenda) of Independence, MO.  She and Judge Donald Barnes who survives of the home were parents of Donald G. Barnes (Marie) of Lee's Summit, MO and Mark E. Barnes of St. Louis, MO. Also surviving are granddaughter Alyssa Barnes and great-grandson Seren, both of Lee's Summit, MO and sisters-in-law Mary Louise Waldrep (Don) of Sedalia and Miree Smith of Pryor, OK along with many other relatives. She was also preceded in death by sisters-in-law Audrey Smith and Isabella D. Smith.
A private family burial will be held at Memorial Park Cemetery.  A public memorial service will be held at a future date.
In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations to Sedalia Community of Christ or Helen G. Steele Music Club in care of Heckart Funeral Home.