Frank Howell Barnett

Frank Howell Barnett was born in Sudan, TX January 25, 1931, to J. O. Barnett Sr. and Susie Howell Barnett.  He passed away in Lubbock, TX on December 16, 2013.  His family moved to Clovis, NM in 1937, where Frank spent his formative years.  

In Clovis, Frank discovered the two great loves that would define him for the rest of his eventful life. The first great love was Christine Laughlin Barnett, who Frank met during high school, and who he married - appropriately - on April Fool’s Day, 1950.  Their marriage began an adventure that would produce three children - Mickey, Becky, and Jan - and an endless supply of material for his second great love:  storytelling. 

Frank and Chris were never idle. He and Chris were small business owners and active members of their community, where Frank was a member of the Portales School Board and then the New Mexico State School Board. In 1984, Frank moved to Washington, DC to take a position with the US Department of Education.  From there, the adventure moved to Atlanta, where they lived until his retirement in 1994. Finally free of the 9-5, Frank and Chris took their show on the road, traveling North America in an RV Frank affectionately dubbed “Frank’s Folly,” until finally hanging up their spurs and settling into the Raider Ranch Community in Lubbock in 2010. 

Frank never met a stranger, and he was famous (infamous?) for his jokes and stories. As he often said, “I never let the truth get in the way of a good story.” His stories were significant parts of the glue that helped make friends and form communities wherever he went.  Whether it was a small-town coffee shop, a contentious school board meeting, or a band of nomadic retirees, Frank had an uncanny way of making people feel at home, at drawing them out of their shells, and at making them smile.

Frank is survived by his wife, Chris, by his sister Sue Barnett Hale of Amarillo, by three children—Mickey Barnett (Janet); Becky Carruthers (Kent); and Jan Barnett—and by four grandchildren—Frank Barnett (Kristin); Jennifer Perkins (John); Cori Carruthers; and Kala (Louay) Azar.  He is also survived by four great-grandchildren and countless friends whose lives he enriched and who will miss him so very much. 

A small memorial service will be held later at Raider Ranch.  In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations to Hospice of Lubbock at 3702 21^st St, Lubbock, TX 79410.

Please celebrate the life of Frank by visiting www.combestfamilyfuneralhomes.com.