Mary Ann Barnett

MAKANDA - Mary Ann (Vincent) Barnett (Nov. 1936 - July 2024)

"I love my family; I love my life." Mary Ann Barnett

It is with deep sadness that our family announces the passing of Mary Ann (Vincent) Barnett, our mom, aunt, grandma, great-grandma, and the heartbeat of our family. Mary Ann departed on July 16, 2024, at the age of 87, for what she referred to as, "The Great Mystery of the Universe." As a microbiologist, teacher, poet and musician, Mary Ann lived a life of abundant creativity and delight.

Born and raised at the base of magnificent Larue Pine Hills, outside the town of Wolf Lake, Mary Ann was the youngest of four children. Always grateful for the immense love and support of her family, she adored her older brothers, John, Wayne and Billy Vincent; and her loving parents, Gertrude Clark (Rosenthal) Vincent and John Wayne "Peggy" Vincent.

Mary Ann graduated with her master's degree from SIUC in Microbiology in 1961. Her cutting-edge research received the attention of the CDC who offered Mary Ann a researcher position upon her graduation. Her thesis is archived in the Special Collections section of Morris Library. Together with her husband, Virgil Barnett (1928-2004), Mary Ann lived a life of exploration and creativity, that eventually took them to Alaska, where Mary Ann taught science and creative writing for 20 years. Eventually, they returned to Southern Illinois where Mary Ann continued to teach chemistry and physics.

They were abundantly proud of their entire family, children, Leigh Wolf of Makanda, Scott Barnett of Minnesota, Sam Barnett of Southern Illinois; grandchildren, Vincent Sadowski of Carterville, Jason Barnett Miller of Los Angeles, California, Tyler Barnett of Minnesota; and great-grandchildren, Lucy Sadowski, Audrey Sadowski and Patric Barnett.

Mary Ann will be remembered always by her family, friends and students for her love of learning, her inherent artfulness, and her indelible sense of exploration.