A.C. "Ace" Barnes

He was born October 3, 1928, to A.C. and Lena Barnes in Rockwall, Texas. If you knew Ace, you would say he was very tough and rough around the edges. He had to be, after 38 skin graft surgeries (burned as a baby and suffered burns as an oil well firefighter), and being the only boy with 5 sisters, he exhibited his life experience.

He attended school in Rockwall where he and his youngest sister Mae would deliver fresh milk to the cafe every morning on their way to school in exchange for their lunch money. At Rockwall High School he played football for only a short while as his headgear didn't fit and he was knocked unconscious for several hours. His parents made him quit so he became team manager. He graduated high school in 1945 at 16 years old in a class of '26 Ace started smoking at an early age and had his driver's license by age 12. He had a strong work ethic, growing up as the only son of a sharecropper, and started working "off the farm" at age 12, delivering ice while also working at a full-service gas station. By the time he was a senior in high school he had 2 jobs, he was a janitor and a bus driver.

Right out of high school Ace got into the rodeo, riding bareback horses for several years. He was asked to fake an injury for ambulance publicity but failed to tell his parents. That got him into trouble with momma. After high school, he attended Draughon's Business College before heading to West Texas. He was working in Dallas as a bartender when he met a guy from Rowan Drilling who convinced him to come to West Texas where he met the love of his life, Mary Caroline Purcell. He and Caroline were married in 1954 and celebrated 50 years together - 2 months before she passed away.

After Rowan drilling, Ace worked for Baroid before starting Ace Mud Company with James Paysinger. His favorite job, however, came in 1978 as a 'hellfighter' when he became the first employee for "Boots and Coots Oilwell Firefighters and Blowout Specialists" where he remained even after they sold to Halliburton in 2010. He and Coots Matthews became the best of friends. His last "hellfighter" job was at age 87 with Stellar Well Control.

Although Ace was color blind and flat footed and turned down by the army, he was the first "hellfighter" landing in Kuwait in 1991 at the end of the Persian Gulf War to begin extinguishing hundreds of oil well fires, It was brutal-- from the lack of proper infrastructure, equipment delivery delays, intense heat from the climate and the fires (burning the soles of his feet) to avoiding landmines. Ace always said he loved his job so much, he would do it for free.

He loved the excitement of traveling the world with his friend Coots Matthews but when he wasn't fighting oilwell fires, he loved being with his wife in Red River, New Mexico, and spending time with his Red River friends. Dad had pet names for everyone. He called his daughter Deb, mullet (small fish) from an early age. Most guys he called "Pods" or "pardner' and women he called "sweets" or "darlin". He always had to have 2 pockets on his shirt, 1 for cigarettes and the other for Kleenex or a handkerchief. He loved his family and they loved him, his family calling him Junior and catering to his every whim.

When in Odessa, he would be at church every Sunday until breaking his hip at age 89, getting out of the back of his pickup. Nothing seemed to get him down, even 3 back surgeries, 2 shoulder surgeries and heart surgery. Unfortunately, the broken hip slowed him down a bit. He was a faithful member (and Elder) of Westminster Presbyterian Church. He loved playing golf and won several tournaments. He also loved his early morning breakfasts with his buddies or coffee in the afternoon, in both Odessa and Red River. He loved his time at Odessa Country Club, weekly lunches with Ben Strickling, his friend for over 50 years, and too many hunting and fishing trips to count. He had more friends than he could count and never hesitated to aid them however they might need and was grateful any time someone would come to visit.

He was preceded in death by his parents, A.C. Barnes, Sr. and Lena Barnes, wife Caroline; sisters Bertha Carr and husband Audrey, Allie Williamson and husband Mims, Ruby Andrew and husband Paul, Mae Townsend and husband Jack and brother in laws A.B. Stafford, Milton Bierschwale and his sister-in-law Margaret Bierschwale.

Ace is survived by his sister Helen Stafford, his brother-in law John Purcell and his wife Nita; his children Stephen Barnes and wife Kelly, Deborah McPherson and husband Billy, his grandchildren, Michael Barnes and wife Omega, Alan Barnes and wife Rachel, Jason McPherson and wife Cassie, Kaylie McPherson Kotecki and husband Stephen and great grandchildren, Austin, Adam, and Gracie Barnes; Jayden and Nick Barnes and Oliver McPherson. He is also survived by numerous nieces, nephews and friends.

Special thanks to Dr. Kubacak, Home Nursing, and Home Hospice who made the last years a bit easier and to those who cared for him and the good friends and colleagues (Boots & Coots, Cudd, OCC buddies) who made the effort to come visit him and send him cards.

In lieu of flowers please make donations to his favorite charity, the Wheeler Peak Fire Department P.O. Box 427, Red River NM, 87558 or Westminster Presbyterian Church 4901 Maple Ave., Odessa, TX 79762.

A memorial service will be held at 1pm on Monday, February 24th at Westminster Presbyterian Church after a private burial.