Harry Barkett

BARKETT, Harry Age 87, passed away at home on Feb. 15, 2009. "From Tiny Acorns Grow Giant Oaks." A legacy he leaves not only in his personal life but his business lifeBorn July 5, 1921, in Greenville, SC to parents who immigrated to South Carolina from Lebanon, he was the next to the youngest of six (5 boys and 1 girl). At 9 years old, this young man moved to Miami with his family and hence the story began to unfoldMarried at 18, to Betty Gonzalez, a petite brunette who hailed from Ybor City in Tampa, at the time of his death would have been married 69 years. He is survived by a large, loving family including his wife, Betty Barkett; daughter, Betty Jean Browning; sons Harry J. Barkett (wife, Carmen); Anthony J. Barkett (wife, Lori), Richard A. Barkett (wife Marie), and Kenneth D. Barkett (wife, Jan). He is further survived by 21 grandchildren, 17 great-grand-children, and 2 great-great-grandchildren. Over 50 of the Barkett family live in the Tampa Bay area today. Harry redefined entrepreneurialIn 1939, he founded Barkett Oil Company of Miami which grew from a modest little fuel oil company to one of the largest independent oil companies in the United States, which owned and operated over 200 convenient food store/gas stations from Key West to Pensacola. During the 60s and 70s his company began to flourish, and as his sons approached adulthood, they entered into the family business. In 1977, the family purchased Petroleum Packers, a small lubricant oil manufacturing company located in the Port of Tampa. Over the next 10 years, the family began concentrating more and more on the lubricant side of the business located in Tampa and began selling off the gas stations throughout Florida. By the late 80s, after most of the gas stations were sold off, Barkett Oil Company located in Miami, was sold to and became known as B.V. Oil. As the family was able to now concentrate 100% of their efforts on the Tampa facility, the family in its entirety moved from Miami to Tampa. Then, in 1998, on the cusp of Harry's retirement, the family's Tampa company, Petroleum Packers, acquired historic Amalie Oil, founded in 1903 and changed the Company name from Petroleum Packers to Amalie Oil Company. Amalie has become one of the largest independent manufacturers and marketers of lubricants distributing its oil products throughout the United States and in over 80 countries around the world. His legacy will live on. He was an exemplary entrepreneur and legendary husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather, and great-great-grandfather. He will never be forgotten. Services will be held Sunday, March 1, 2009, at 1:15 pm at Blount & Curry Funeral Home, 605 S. MacDill Avenue, Tampa, FL 33609. The Family requests, in lieu of flowers, donations be made to the UCH Foundation, c/o Jayne N. Kloss, 3100 E. Fletcher Avenue, Tampa, FL 33613. Inquiries: 813-615-7664 or email: JKloss@mail.UCH.org. The online guestbook may be signed at www.blountcurrymacdill.com. Blount & Curry Funeral Home 813-876-2421