Cleonice DeKay Barnes

Cleonice (Cleo) was born in Stuart, Nebraska on September 28, 1925, to Dr. H. George DeKay and May Robertson DeKay. The family moved to West Lafayette, Indiana when she was young as her father became a Professor of Pharmacy at Purdue University.

As a youth, Cleo was active as a Girl Scout, and played piano and cello. Later she became a student at Purdue and earned a bachelor’s degree in pharmacy in 1945. There she met her husband of 71 years, Albert J. Barnes, Jr. Cleo worked as a pharmacist until the birth of their two sons, Steven and Gary. While in college she played the cello, and was a member of the Delta Gamma Sorority, serving in different capacities during college and after, including chairman of many committees as well as Treasurer (1951+1952) and President (1953-1955) of the sorority.

Cleo was a member of the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) and served as the assistant Treasurer (1984). She was involved with the Big Sisters program and was a Cub Scout den mother. Cleo did volunteer work for the Fall Creek Elementary School, the Indiana Society to Prevent Blindness, the Indiana School for the Blind, and the Juvenile Center Auxiliary. She also knit for the Buckthorn Community Center (Kentucky) and gardened on projects around Indianapolis for the Sunny Hours Garden Club.

Cleo and her husband, Albert (Al), were members of Northminster Presbyterian Church and sang in the choir for over 50 years, for which she also served as chairman and librarian for many of those years. Cleo held offices as a Deaconess, an Elder, and as chairman of various committees, including the Evangelism Committee, Garden and Grounds, and Music and Worship. In 1978, she was awarded Honorary Membership of Program Agency of the United Presbyterian Church in the USA in recognition of service to women of Northminster.

She and Al traveled the United States and the world, visiting all 50 states and most countries. As a student of Biblical paleontology, she enjoyed visiting significant sites in the Holy Lands and amassed a great body of photographs from which she would give slide show talks about their travels.

She spent the last thirteen years at Marquette Manor, many with her late husband, Al. They lived in the independent living section for many years where they continued to play bridge and attend events at Foundation Hall. Only recently did Cleo move to the assisted living section where she proceeded to make new friends. Both former and new friends would always comment on her ready smile.

Cleo is survived by her two sons: Steven (Nancy) Barnes of Carmel, and Gary (Robin) Barnes of Indianapolis, plus 6 grandchildren: Douglas, Clifton, Joseph, Kristin, Daniel and Nathanael, and 5 great grandchildren, all in the Indianapolis area.

A private family service will be held in February at Crown Hill Funeral Home and Cemetery to commemorate her life. She will be greatly missed by her family. If you would like to honor Cleo with a memory to be shared with her family, please add a message to the Crown Hill obituary page.

Charitable contributions can be made to Northminster Presbyterian Church in Indianapolis.