Ian Keith Barnes

Ian was born on November 25, 1928, in London, England to parents Lewis and Winifred (Upward) Barnes. He was preceded in death by his parents, step-mother Lynette Nicholson, sister Jill Smith, brother Lawrence Barnes, and stillborn grandson Joshua Ian Wortman.

He is survived by his wife of 57 years, Eveline Elizabeth (Taylor) Barnes, son Keith Barnes of Kansas City, KS, daughter Merriam Faye (Barnes) Wortman, her husband Ronald, of Kansas City, KS, and five grandchildren, Daniel, Luke, Kayla, Ryan, and Elliana Wortman, as well as many nieces and nephews.

Ian was the oldest of three children and spent his early life living on Ham Farm, Hog Lane, Elstree Hertfordshire, which is about an hour outside of London. (London had become unsafe during World War II with the air raids in the middle of the night.) He attended Watford Grammar School, and served in the Royal Air Force. At the age of 21, Ian was offered free boat passage and an insurance job in Australia if he was willing to go. He spent 5 years there, during which time he was asked by a pastor who was moving away to read the Bible to his congregation of Aboriginal Australians, many of whom could not yet read. Reading the Scriptures helped him to trust Jesus as his own personal Savior, a decision that would guide the rest of his life. He had a cousin, Sam Barnes, who lived in Baltimore, Maryland, who convinced Ian to come to the United States. Ian moved around a bit, living in Maryland, Georgia, South Carolina, and Missouri. He attended and graduated from Colombia Bible College in South Carolina. At the age of 38, he met and married Eveline Taylor, who lived in Merriam, Kansas. They had two children, and lived in the Kansas City area their entire married life. He had a variety of jobs, but spent most of his career working in Central Processing at the Shawnee Mission Hospital (now Advent Health,) where he sterilized the instruments that the doctors used for surgery.

Shortly after their marriage, Ian and Eveline started attending the Overland Park Bible Chapel, which eventually moved and became the Bible Chapel of Shawnee. Ian was faithful in attending the chapel, which became an extended family for him and Eveline. He drove the bus when they had one, and he visited the prison in Lexington, Missouri once a month for several years. He and Eveline hosted a Bible Study that met in their home on Sunday nights until his health became too poor. Ian will be remembered by many as a prayer warrior. He would pray regularly for any need of any person he knew, and often for our nation. Even when he couldn’t attend church any more, he would still get on Zoom, and often pray at Prayer Meeting. His love for the Lord and concern for others was evident as he would bring concerns before the throne of grace. He loved music, especially hymns. He played the violin and taught himself to play the organ and the piano. He would sing hymns all the way to church on Sundays and after Bible readings, which was a daily occurrence in the home. He and Eveline would read the Bible and pray with anyone who would come over.

Ian always stayed active and was very family oriented. In his younger years, he took the family on camping trips with a tent. He also loved to attend the Ozark Family Camps, getting to know other families who have become lifelong friends. He loved to ride his bike, up until he was 91. He and Eveline were very active at the Landon Center on Aging, where they participated in exercise classes. During summers when the grandchildren were young, the Landon Center would have a weekly movie for kids to watch with their grandparents, and they really enjoyed spending that time together.

Ian lived on three continents and loved the ocean, but he settled in landlocked Kansas, because that is where God led him. The words of one of his favorite hymns sum up his life rather well, “This my song through endless ages, Jesus led me all the way.”

A visitation for Ian will be held Friday, September 13, 2024 from 5:00 PM to 7:00 PM at Chapel Hill - Butler Funeral Home, 701 North 94th Street, Kansas City, Kansas 66112. A graveside service will occur Saturday, September 14, 2024 at 9:00 AM at Chapel Hill Memorial Gardens. A celebration of life will occur Saturday, September 14, 2024 at 10:30 AM at The Bible Chapel of Shawnee, 12230 W 75th Street, Shawnee, Kansas 66216.

Please click on the Zoom link below for the Ian Barnes service at The Bible Chapel of Shawnee, starting at 10:30 on Saturday, September 14.

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83872580008?pwd=Eh31DqjCAt8LzopENlqhrrS4kXiXaz.1