Thomas Leroy Barnett

BARNETT, Thomas Leroy
Born November 15, 1923, in Evansville, Ind., he passed away peacefully on February 22, 2007, at the age of 83. He was the youngest child of Lena Mae McClarney and William Henry Barnett. After a brief service in the U.S. Air Force, Tom married Maxine Ballard in 1949. A desire to work for a newspaper brought them to the West Coast. In 1955 they settled in Sacramento and Tom began work at the Sacramento Union. A few years later he was offered the job of a newspaper pressman at The Sacramento Bee which he accepted. He was a trusted employee and served several terms as a Pressman's Union Officer, retiring at age 65 after more than 25 years at The Bee. Tom was a sports enthusiast, playing in bowling and softball leagues through work and church. Tom and Maxine joined The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints (Mormon) in 1957 and were active members until their deaths. Tom held many positions in the church including 5 years as Bishop; serving a full-time one-year mission in Charlotte, N.C.; and as a regular Temple Worker in the Oakland, Calif., Temple. He was preceded in death by his wife of 57 years and his older brothers, James and William. Tom is survived by his sister Valada Weldon; his four children, Jerri Ream, Thomas Lee Barnett, Francy Jo Hendrickson, and Jeffrey Barnett, their spouses, eight grandchildren, one great-grandson, and many extended family. Relatives and friends are welcome for visitation on Wednesday, Feb. 28, from 6:00-8:00 PM at SACRAMENTO MEMORIAL LAWN, 6100 Stockton Blvd.; and to funeral services on Thursday, March 1, at 10:00 AM at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 8925 Vintage Park Drive, Sacramento, CA 95828.