Bret "Bubba" Thomas Northington

Bret was a lively and outgoing personality. Everyone always knew when Bubba arrived to the party. Bret was a connoisseur of wine and life, and he lived everyday like it was his last. His dream was to retire at the coast and he happily lived out that dream.

Bret was born on April 10, 1959 in Visalia, California to Dolores and Fred Northington. He attended Kings River Hardwick and Hanford High School where he was in the FFA and played football. He graduated from Hanford High in 1977. Bret was a driven entrepreneur who worked throughout High School washing cars at Kings Row Ford. Bret enjoyed being a member of the Kings County Sheriff’s Posse, which he joined in 1987 and during his membership he has served on the Board of Directors, Chairman of the annual crab feeds, Vice President and then President in the past and he was also honored as Rider of the Year, he will be missed dearly by his posse.

After graduation, he worked at Kingston Oldsmobile in the sales department. Bret then began dating Terri Hill, whose dad, Robert (“Bob”) Hill, owned Roberts Chevrolet in Hanford, California. Bret left Kingston and worked for Roberts in the sales department.

Bret married Terri in 1982. Bob sent Bret to dealer-son school where he graduated and soon got the itch to own his own dealership. The opportunity came in 1990 when the owner of Alta Chevrolet in Dinuba, California, approached Bret about buying the dealership. Bret’s Auto Center came to fruition and the slogan “Your Best Bet is Bret’s” was born. Bret and Terri spent endless days and nights growing the business and raising their children.

Bret was known for being able to sell ice to an eskimo and for putting his customers above his bottom line. He built trust with his customers and was loved by his employees and customers alike.

Bret remarried, Rayma Ellison, in 2002. The two enjoyed traveling, building their dream home in Avila Beach and summers in Bass Lake.

It wasn’t long before Bret opened his second dealership, Bret’s Ford, in Reedley, California in 1996. Bret soon outgrew the Reedley store and broke ground on a brand-new, 55,000 sq. ft. dealership in Dinuba, California. Meanwhile, he opened a used car lot, Bret’s Sales and Leasing, in Hanford, California.

Bret’s biggest accomplishment came when his two children with Terri were born, Whitney Marie and Bret Jared. Bret always wanted something greater for his children and he worked tirelessly to achieve greatness for his family. He was always one to brag about his kids and was a very proud father. Nothing made him happier than going to Whitney’s softball games and yelling “Who’s your daddy!!!” While this embarrassed Whitney and Jared at the time, it is now one of their fondest memories of their dad. Bret taught Whitney and Jared to take risks, be in charge, assertive and business minded. Bret took great pride in mentoring his young son, Jared, into being the business man he is today, just like his dad.

Bret leaves his loving and fond memories to be cherished by this mother, Dolores “DeeDee” Van Groningen, his two children, Whitney Northington Barnick and Bret Jared Northington, and his son-in-law, Nicholas Barnick.

A Funeral Mass will be held on Friday, April 7, 2017 at 11:00 a.m. at St. Brigid Catholic Church; 1000 N. Douty St., Hanford, CA.

Guests are encouraged to wear bright pink or black in honor of Bret and his signature hot pink plates.

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

In honor of Bret and his love of the Sheriff’s posse please consider making a donation in Bret’s memory as opposed to flowers to the Kings County Sheriff’s Posse; PO Box 1176, Hanford, CA 93232 (559) 582-4718.

Services by People’s Funeral Chapel (559) 584-5591.