Ron, the sixth child of Jim and Hilda Barnes, was born on October 27, 1931 in Coronation, Alberta.

He resided in the Brownfield area for his entire life.

He took all his schooling at the one room Brownfield School.

After completing grade nine, he started his farming career, pitching bundles for the neighbors or helping out at home.

In 1953, he bought his home quarter and started building the present operation, Little Profit Acres.

In August 1956, he married Annette Schmidt of the Talbot district.

Over the years as the farm grew so did the family with the birth of five children – Keith, Kathy, Lucy, Stan and Kelly.

Ron loved the farm life, his cattle and horses.

He spent hours touring the river hills checking cows and fences with his wife and five children in a pick-up truck before the days of the extended cab.

Ron was very active in the community and was involved with many organizations and clubs.

He was a 4-H leader for over 25 years; served 40 years on the Brownfield Rec. Board and 25 years plus with the Hardisty Feeder Association.

He was also a member of the United Church Board, the Brownfield Curling Club and the Hardisty Light Horse Association.

Most Sundays were family days, either enjoying a family ball game and picnic at Burma or supper at Grandma and Grandpa Schmidt’s.

In his later years, Ron and Annette would chase grandchildren – to the ball diamonds, hockey rinks, and ski hill or rodeo grounds.

Ron was predeceased by his parents, Jim and Hilda Barnes; brother Bill; sisters Louise Wakefield and Marion McLarty and in-laws Henry and Emily Schmidt.

Left to cherish his memory are his wife of 44 years Annette and his children Keith, his wife Lynn and their children Jordan and Blair; daughter Kathy Adair and her husband Glen and their daughters Shiana, Alicia and Brittany; daughter Lucy Arndt and husband Brian and their children Justin, Christopher and Robyn; son Stan and his wife Debbie and daughter Lara; son Kelly and his wife Gail and their children Quintin and Kelsy; brothers Reg and Bob (Doreen); sisters Evelyn Vopni, Sadie Caseley and Dorothy (Don) Buehler, sister in law Rose Barnes and brother in law Bud Wakefield plus numerous nieces, nephews, friends and neighbors.

Funeral services for the late Ron Barnes were held on Tuesday, January 16, 2000 in the Elks Community Hall, Coronation, Ab. at 2:00 P.M. with Pastor Fred Thomson and Rev. Russell W. Rogers officiating.

Bruce Adair gave a tribute in memory of Ron’s life.

Faye Webber played the piano for the congregational hymns "In The Garden" and "Shall We Gather At The River".

Yvonne Barnes sang a solo for the family and congregation.

The interment took place at the Coronation Cemetery with pallbearers Dwayne Barnes, Craig Caseley, David Wakefield, Hugh McLarty, Shorty Schmidt, and Wayne Black.

Honorary pallbearers were "All of Ron’s Family and Friends".

Following the funeral service, family and friends gathered together in the Elks Community Hall for a time of fellowship and light refreshment prepared and served by the Fairfield Ladies Fellowship and the Brownfield U.C.W.

Should friends desire as an expression of sympathy memorial contributions may be made in Ron’s memory to the Coronation Health Care Complex (Home Away From Home Room) Mail Bag #500 Coronation, Ab. TOC 1CO or to the Brownfield Rec. Centre, Box 56 Brownfield, AB. TOC ORO and would be appreciated by the family.

Parkview Funeral Chapels "Families Serving Families" were entrusted with the care and funeral arrangements. For further information please contact 578-3777.

Tribute

I would like to say it is a real honour to be asked to give the tribute to Ron Barnes’ life.

How can one possibly do justice in a few minutes what took Ron 69 years to live.

Ron had a real love for people and being in the centre of the action is where he shone.

If his house was full of kids and noise, he was the happiest.

He loved each one of his grandchildren and was often seen at a hockey game, ball game, Christmas concert or whatever they were involved in.

Sunday afternoons in the summer often included Grandpa pitching some softball after a wiener roast at the river or maybe a truck load of kids going down the backroads to the river pasture to see the cattle.

Ron had a soft spot for music.

The pick-up and tractors were all stationed to Country and he could swing with the best of them.

Often when baling or silaging, a grandchild would be riding in his tractor.

It was then that Grandpa would sing to them, making up songs and riddle to his own music.

Ron’s second love had to be his livestock.

He has over the years built up a commercial herd of predominately Charolais cows that would make any rancher proud.

Probably every cattleman in the Brownfield area at one time or another has needed and valued Ron’s opinion or help to deliver a calf or diagnose and treat a sick animal.

He was always available at any hour and a cup of coffee and ‘Oh, just give me a hand someday’ was all he asked for pay.

Ron always kept a good saddle horse and often a team of heavys too.

Brownfield Santa and all the kids were often hauled by his team and a good many school classes got a sleigh ride and wiener roast at Ron and Annette’s.

The invention of the 4x4 truck seemed to be a challenge for Ron to master the river hills and at times Chevy could have made some excellent commercials following his fencing truck.

Ron never did acquire a love for water or swimming, but when he stopped and saw a hot tub we had rented for Ken’s grad some years ago, he was up for the challenge.

Not owning a bathing suit, he headed home, got the scissors out, cut off a pair of blue jeans and returned to enjoy a good soak, skinny white bird legs and all.

Ron was always an early riser. It wasn’t uncommon to hear a vehicle go by our place at 5:30 or 6:00 in the morning and we knew he was off to check his cows.

At the end of a good days work he had a saying I know my kids won’t forget.

He would say, ‘I sure cut a thick slice off a fat hogs arse today’ and then he would grin with satisfaction.

Ron always looked on the positive side of things. He had endured his share of adversities.

Over 20 years ago he had his first battle with cancer and a few years ago, he had an artificial knee put in.

He was told he shouldn’t ride a horse after this, but only a few weeks later, he was back in the saddle checking fence and cows in the pasture.

I never did hear him complain about his health.

Only a week ago Saturday, we were with Ron in the hospital, his feet were quite swollen and as he sat in his wheel chair.

Lynn took his hand and said ‘Ron, what would you like to do?’

Ron’s immediate reply was ‘Let’s get up and dance’ We could all learn from that exuberant kind of spirit.

I would like to address just the grandchildren now.

When I came up here today there was something I couldn’t find.

I was looking for a black book marked PASSPORT.

You know there isn’t one here - Grandpa never owned one - Grandpa never even flew in a commercial airplane.

He never got stamps from all the countries he holidayed in.

When he had spare time after calving or harvest he didn’t cruise the oceans or fly to a new country.

No, Grandpa used his time to help a neighbour fix a broken piece of machinery or move cow for someone else, help clip a 4-H calf, have coffee with someone, take his family to the Stampede or on a scenic tour of the backroads.

Many times he could be found just playing with you guys or maybe taking Grandma to supper in Hardisty.

Your family didn’t need me to give a tribute to your Grandpa’s life.

You turn around and look at all the hundreds of people that are here - they are your Grandpa’s tribute to his life.

Each one of them has a story or something they can share with you about your Grandpa.

I just know that the love your Grandpa had for the things God created in ‘the animals and the river valley he loved so much’ and how at peace he was, that you will see him in heaven.

- Bruce D. Adair

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