Evelyn May Barnes

Evelyn May Barnes (née Schmidt) was born on December 17, 1945, at home in Nanty Glo, Pennsylvania, a small coal mining town in the western part of the state. As the youngest of five children, family was at the center of her life. Because of this, she became a strong, kind, and generous person. She made friends easily and was a natural caregiver. These traits remained constant throughout her life.

After graduating from high school, Evelyn moved to Washington, D.C., where she began working for the Federal Aviation Administration. This is where she met the love of her life, Jimmy Barnes, who was introduced to her by "Uncle Paul." They were married on June 3, 1967. Three weeks afterwards, they left for England. From there, they traveled the world from one adventure to another. Three and a half years later while overseas in England, they welcomed their son, Kevin James.

Following this portion of their adventure, they returned to Virginia briefly before embarking on another international journey. During their two years in Africa, they welcomed their daughter Renae Suzanne. The following two years the family was stationed in the Philippines before returning to the United States.

Throughout the years, Evelyn worked in multiple administrative positions, served as a real estate agent, and later held various roles within the U.S. government.

In April of 1998, Evelyn and Jimmy moved to Mt. Vernon, Missouri, where she worked for a title company and a paving/construction company. As a devoted member of First Baptist Church, her servant's heart shone brightly. She volunteered faithfully at local nursing homes and was deeply involved in church ministries. This included Wednesday night dinners, funeral meals, and AWANA. She also participated in the church's Disaster Relief Group, assisted with Red Cross efforts, and served at the local food pantry.

Evelyn was preceded in death by her father, Emil; her mother, Cecelia and her three brothers, Bill, Don, and Leroy.

She is survived by her loving husband of 58 years, Jimmy Barnes; her sister, Lois; her son, Kevin Barnes, and wife Rebecca; her daughter, Renae Barnes and her cherished grandsons, Jackson, Lukas, and Carter. Additionally, she leaves behind a network of nieces, nephews, and friends.

Evelyn will be remembered for her kindness, generosity, and unwavering dedication to her family, church, and community. Her life was marked by service, compassion, and love, leaving a lasting legacy in the hearts of all who knew her.

A visitation under the direction of Fossett-Mosher Funeral Home, in Mt. Vernon, Missouri, will be held from 10:00–11:00 a.m. on Monday, April 6, 2026, at the Mt. Vernon First Baptist Church with a funeral service to follow at 11:00 a.m. at the church. Burial will follow at the Summit Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made payable to the Summit Cemetery, in care of the funeral home.

Online condolences may be shared at this website.