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- James Thomas Barnette, Lieutenant Colonel, U. S. Army, Retired, age 78, of Johnson City, entered into heavenly rest at his home on Tuesday, September 15, 2015, following a brief illness of metastatic cancer.
Born to Thomas Nathaniel and Lillian Light Barnette on October 11, 1936, in the Long Island community of Kingsport, TN, Jimmy's formative years were spent with family in the Beech Creek community of Rogersville, TN. In 1954, "Jimmy" and his brother Don joined the Army together and upon completion of that obligation, they returned home to enroll at East Tennessee State College in 1957.
After reaching the rank of Sergeant First Class in the Army Reserve, he was commissioned First Lieutenant.
He later earned both Bachelor of Science and Master of Arts degrees while on active duty. He was proud to have served in the Vietnam conflict during 1969. His combined enlisted and officer assignments spanned 33 years of service.
Following retirement, Jimmy and wife Brenda Freeman returned to Johnson City where he volunteered in several capacities at the Veterans Administration. He was a proud and active member of the Reserve Officers Association (ROA), the John Sevier VFW Post 2108, the American Legion Post 0024, the Vietnam Veterans of the Vietnam War, Inc. and the Veterans Coalition (National), Rolling Thunder, Inc., Chapter 4 Tennessee, Association of United States Army (AUSA) , and the Tennessee Committee for Employer Support for Guard and Reserve (ESGR). The project closest to his heart was serving as a charter member on the committee that oversaw the design, construction and dedication of the Johnson City-Washington County Veterans' Memorial .
In addition to his wife of 51 years, those left to cherish his memory include son James , JR. of Reston, Virginia; daughters and sons-in law, Beth and Paul Knight and Brooke and Brad Moore all of Fishers, IN; grandchildren Katrina and husband Mike Freedman, Carlsbad, CA; Jordan Barnette, Newport News, VA; Nathan and wife Edwina Barnette, Hobart, IN and Piper Barnette, Reston, VA; brothers and sisters-in-law Donald and Patsy Barnette, Johnson City; Ronald and Margaret Barnette, Harlem, GA; Stanley Barnette, Bushnell, Florida; sisters Brenda and husband John Ramage, Auburn, AL; Loretta B. Murphy , Johnson City, and Sharon Shelton, Kingsport; nephews Guerry Murphy, Knoxville; Donald Barnette, Jr., Gray; Scott Barnette, Brandon, Florida; Steve Barnette, Austin, Arkansas; nieces Debbie Murphy, Johnson City; Sindy Barnette and Shanda Lord, Grovetown, GA; Tricia Peterson and Diana Ramage, Auburn, AL; several great nieces and nephews, cousins, and a host of friends.
The family will greet loved ones and friends as they offer tribute to Jimmy's life on Friday, September 18, 2015, at Tetrick Funeral and Cremation Services, Peoples Street, Johnson City, TN.
Visitation will begin at 11:00 a.m. and will continue until service time at 1:00 p.m. Reverend Gerald Casson, Wesley Memorial United Methodist Church, will officiate.
A committal service with military honors, accorded by the Boone Dam VFW Post #4933 and the Tennessee National Guard, will be conducted on Friday, September 18, 2015, at 2:30 p.m. at the Mountain Home National Cemetery.
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1936 - 2015 (78 years)
