Michael E. Barnes

Michael Barnes died on October 27, 2025, age 67, in Columbia, Missouri after surviving two strokes in past 10 years. However, this past summer he had surgery to remove a cancerous tumor in his neck; his health declined rapidly in the three months that followed. Michael, or Mike, was born September 29, 1958 in Trenton, Missouri to L. Earl and Cassie Barnes. The family relocated from Trenton to Columbia, Missouri in 1968, where Mike would live most of the rest of his life.

Mike spent the majority of his working and volunteer life involved in music in different venues and capacities. Mike’s musical journey began in Trenton, Missouri when, in 1963, his parents bought their next-door neighbor’s 1928 Brinkerhoff upright piano. While Mike’s two sisters received formal training in piano, Mike began playing by ear, figuring out melodies that he heard on the radio.

Mike’s formal music training began a few years later. In fourth grade, he began singing in the school choir, and the following summer he began a 50+ year journey as a saxophonist. In high school, he added flute to his musical toolkit. Mike was a proud graduate of Hickman High School, Columbia and helped in planning his class of ’76 reunions.

During a brief stint as a music composition major at the University of Missouri, Mike played alto sax in Marching Mizzou, baritone sax in Mini Mizzou, and sang tenor in Mizzou’s vocal jazz ensemble, Singsations.

The desire to sing pulled Mike away from Mizzou and during the summer of 1977 through spring 1978, he performed in shows at Six Flags Over Mid-America in St. Louis. That was followed by four years (1978-1982) as a featured band vocalist with the jazz band of the 661st Air Force Band, The Band of Flight at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio. In this role, he traveled with the Air Force band to multiple states around Ohio and performed for numerous community benefits and events.

In 1983, Mike returned to Columbia, taking a break from all things musical. Mike worked at MBS Textbook Exchange from 1983 to 1999 doing numerous college book “buy-back” trips to campuses around the country. On March 17, 1984, he married Paula Volmert, who preceded him in death in December 2023. Mike and Paula were married for almost 40 years.

Mike was active in the Music Ministry at the St. Thomas More Newman Center, in Columbia, where he had been a long-time parishioner. He was an active choir member and song leader/cantor for Sunday masses, as well as special church celebrations and private weddings. He was also an active member, a 4th degree Knight in the Knights of Columbus Council 1529 in Columbia.

In 1995, the itch to share his musical gifts returned, and he began singing and playing sax, flute and bass at Newman Center. While working (2010 – 2015) at Barnhouse’s Crazy Music, he was approached by David Bach about being the bass player and singing in a new venture that would become Crooked Cane rock band. However, in September of 2015, a stroke put Mike’s bass-playing abilities on hold. Upon returning to Crooked Cane, he became the band’s bass keyboardist, singer and songwriter. You can hear Mike singing one of his original songs on the band’s debut CD, Crooked Cane.

He loved to compose music - always carrying his staff paper with him so he could notate the melody and chords when the creative juices came to him. Prior to working at Barnhouse’s Crazy Music, Mike was employed with Hennessy & Sons Music (1999 – 2010).

Michael is survived by his two sisters, Marcia Baker of Dallas, Texas and MaryAnne Seymour of Kearney, Missouri, as well as several nephews and nieces. In addition to his wife Paula Barnes, he was preceded in death by his parents.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Knights of Columbus Council 1529 a Columbia, St. Thomas More Newman Center (ComoNewman.org). Or Phoenix Hospice, Columbia.