Harold Leslie "Deck" Barnes

Harold Leslie "Deck" Barnes was born in Jacksonville, Florida on December 16, 1926. He grew up alongside his father, Wade, his mother, Helen, his sister, Dorothy, and his brother, James, in Springfield. He began working and providing for others at an early age, exchanging sleep for around-the-clock employment in order to help his family get by -- taking a reprieve only to serve his country during World War II as a Merchant Marine. He carried this spirit of dedication and sacrifices further into his young adulthood as he married his beloved wife, Clarice, and fathered two children, Bruce and Leslie. He built an incredible career in the world of automotive parts, establishing working relationships with nearly every major dealership in the Southeast -- either as an employee or under contract with his own inventory control business. Through this career, which he maintained up to his 86th birthday, he developed cherished friendships and taught countless coworkers the values of empathy and hard work. He is survived by these friends and former coworkers, including Donnie Oulton, Tom Adams, Mickey McAleer, and David Crane, as well as his grandson, Maxwell Wood, his granddaughter, Angie Poor, and his nephew, Randy Lawrence. Funeral services will be held at eleven o’clock in the morning on Saturday, May 18, 2013 at The Oaklawn Chapel. The family will receive friends one hour prior to the service at the chapel. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to the Cancer Fund of America. Harold was an incredible individual whose incredible contribution to the lives around him will be missed deeply. Please visit www.HardageGiddensOaklawnChapel.com where words of sympathy and special memories may be left. HARDAGE-GIDDENS, THE OAKLAWN CHAPEL, 4801 San Jose Boulevard is serving the family.