Obit of Barnett, John Corner - Grady County, Oklahoma

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Copyright, http://www.bakersfield.com/                        28 Oct 2007
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::Arvin Cemetery--Arvin CA

Barnett, John Corner

John Corner Barnett "Johnny or John C" April 19, 1918 - June 4, 2007 
A memorial service will be held June 9th, 10:00 a.m., in the chapel 
of Hillcrest Mortuary. A graveside will follow at Arvin Cemetery on 
Bear Mountain Blvd., in Arvin. John C. was born in Ninnekah, Oklahoma 
to E.T. Barnett and Oliver (Jones) Barnett on April 19, 1918. He 
passed away quietly on June 4, 2007, in Bakersfield, at the age of 
89. John graduated high school in Oklahoma but went back for a 13th 
year just to play football. When he went back for a 14th year, it was 
not allowed. College was out of his reach financially. In 1939 he 
married his first wife, Olga Geneva Grotts. He was working at a diner 
called the Quick Lunch in Plainview, Texas. Shortly after their first 
born son, Jerry, was born in 1941, they moved to Bakersfield, CA to 
pursue their dreams and ambitions. John is preceded in death by his 
parents; two brothers; one sister; his first wife, Gene Berry; his 
second wife, Eunice Bittle; and his last wife, Jean (Hoosier) Barnett.
He is survived by three daughters, Sheila Ryan, Sharon 

Burgner, and Denise Barnett; three sons, Jerry E. Barnett, Johnny 
Richard Barnett, and Johnny Robert Barnett. He is also survived by 11 
grandchildren, Gary Barnett, Paul Barnett, Ken Barnett, Mike Barnett, 
Dennis Burgner, Kieth Burgner, Josh Barnett, Honor Levins, Kim 
Kjelogard, Tammy Simpson, and Jason Barnett. John also has numerous 
great-grandchildren; and many extended family members. Country music 
was John's life. He had been entertaining since he was eleven years 
old. In 1950 he formed a band and played at a country nite club 
called The Lucky Spot. He played there for 13 years. During that 
time, members of his band were the likes of Billy Mize, Cliff 
Crawford, Fuzzy Owen, Gene Moles, Tommy Hays, Bobby Durham, Roy 
Nichols, Merle Haggard in his early years, and many more too numerous 
to mention. He actually gave Merle his first job, thus they helped 
pioneer the "Bakersfield Sound". He also sang on the Cousin Herb TV 
Show and Jimmy Thomason TV Show. Johnny will not only be missed by 
his family, he will be missed by the country music world in 
Bakersfield.

Published in the Bakersfield Californian on 6/7/2007.
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