Raymond Don Barnes

Ray was born on July 15th, 1932 in Yorba Linda, California, and moved with his family to Cookeville, Tennessee, at the age of six. He was a graduate of Cookeville High School and then of Tennessee Technological University in 1958 with a degree in Business Administration. He joined the Tennessee National Guard in 1951 and later went into active military duty to serve his country in Korea. Ray proudly continued to serve in the 30th Armored Division of the Tennessee National Guard and US Army Reserve until 1965. Beginning his career with Provident Life & Accident Insurance Company in 1958, Ray was Vice President of the Claims Division at the time he retired in 1984. He then was active on the Boards of TEAM Evaluation Center and The Bachman Community Center.

Ray married Joan McMurry and moved to Chattanooga, where they lived in Hixson and Red Bank before settling on Signal Mountain in 1969. He was very involved with Dixie Youth Baseball on Signal as a long-time coach and administrator. For over 37 years, Ray served as Treasurer of Signal Crest United Methodist Church and made many trips driving the youth group to Atlanta Braves baseball games. Ray’s favorite pastime was anything involving his kids, and then his grandchildren. He was also passionate about travel, the outdoors, genealogy research, his book club and honing his “card-shark” skills.

Ray was preceded in death by his parents, John Lewis Barnes and Lexie Webb Barnes; sisters Marie Robertson and Helen Lang and brother, John Barnes, Jr. He is survived by his wife of 58 years, Joan McMurry Barnes and their four children, Don Barnes (Leigh), Linda Morphis (Rock), Patrick Barnes (Saijai) all of Nashville, TN and Julie Berry (Mike) of Signal Mountain. Raymond and Joan have 10 grandchildren: Kathleen Yabroudy (Matthew), Ellen and John Morphis, Sam, Emma and Lexie Berry, Kate and Emily Barnes and Rose and Laura Barnes. He is also survived by his sister, Alene Gordon, of Scotts Valley, California and many nieces and nephews.

On March 25th, there will be a private interment at the National Cemetery followed by a 4:00pm celebration of his life at Signal Crest United Methodist Church on Signal Mountain.

Expressions of sympathy may be made to organizations important to Raymond: Renewed (http://renewedsupport.org) 2120 Crestmoor Rd #3000, Nashville, TN 37215

or Signal Crest United Methodist Church, 1005 Ridgeway Avenue Signal Mountain, TN 37377