Barbara Lee Burnett

Barbara was born on November 20, 1938, in Berryville, Arkansas, the sixth of seven daughters born to Fred and Ida Bell Trammell. She moved to California with her family as a child. She spent her youth picking cotton and working in the agricultural fields. She attended local schools including Hanford High School. At age 17 she married the love of her life, Leroy Burnett, and the two were married 56 years until his passing in 2011. Together Barbara and Leroy had three children, Donald “Donnie” Burnett, Kathy Hughes, and Ryan Burnett. She spent the majority of her adult life living in Hanford, with a short time spent in Fresno.

Barbara worked for Sears Roebuck as a sales clerk before she began a very successful career in real estate in 1978. She was a real estate agent in Hanford with Smith and Dority and Century 21 West Valley Properties before obtaining her real estate broker’s license and opening her own real estate firm, Smith and Burnett Real Estate, with Dorman Smith in 1987. In 1992 the firm became affiliated with a national franchise as Burnett and Associates/Better Homes and Gardens and was later operated as an independent real estate firm until her retirement under the name Burnett and Associates Real Estate. She was well known and respected for her advocacy for her clients.

Barbara is preceded in death by her husband, Leroy Burnett, one grandchild, Stefan Richter, and five of her sisters. She is survived by her oldest son Donald Burnett and his son Donald James “DJ” Burnett, Kathy Richter and her children Melissa Richter, Kristin Richter and James Ian Richter, Ryan Burnett and his children Lauren Burnett and Matthew Burnett, her sister Alma Lloyd, three great-grandchildren, and numerous nieces and nephews.

A Memorial Service will be held on Friday, June 3, 2016 at 11:00 am at People’s Funeral Chapel, 501 N. Douty St., Hanford, CA.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests a donation be made in Barbara’s name to the American Cancer Society or to your favorite charity.

Family and Friends are invited to view Barbara’s legacy at www.peoplesfuneralchapel.com and send condolences to the family.

Services are under the direction of People’s Funeral Chapel.