Verna Lynne Barnett

Verna Lynne Barnett, age 97, of Osawatomie, Kansas, died Tuesday, October 12, 2010 at
the Life Care Center, Osawatomie.
Verna Lynne was born July 31, 1913 at Neodesha, Kansas. She was the only child born
to Ira Jonathan Frazier and Lillian (Smith) Frazier. Her father died when she was 4 years
old in an explosion at the Union Tankline Company in Neodesha. When she was nine,
her mother married Bert Akin and the family moved to Osawatomie. She graduated from
Osawatomie High School with the Class of 1931. To further her education, she
completed several courses in secretarial training and accounting.
Her first job was as librarian in the Osawatomie Public Library at 5th and Brown. She
was later hired by a dress shop owner where she used her talents as a seamstress to make
clothes for customers. She then became self-employed and designed and made dresses
for her friends and customers.
Verna Lynne was united in marriage to Raymond Howard Barnett on May 7, 1938. They
made their home in Osawatomie and became the parents of two children. Mr. Barnett
died on November 7, 1998, after 60 years of marriage. Verna Lynne continued living at
their home at 209 Brown Avenue where they had lived since 1940 until 2006 when she
moved to Vintage Park Assisted Living.
Verna Lynne worked for her son, Burk, as a bookkeeper at Burk’s Auto Clinic from 1975
through the early 1990’s. This was a dream job for Verna Lynne as she thoroughly
enjoyed working with figures alongside her son.
She enjoyed spending her time working on needlepoint, in her flowerbeds, feeding the
birds, doing ceramics, and genealogy. She also enjoyed playing the piano and organ.
She and her daughter Sharon spent many happy times playing duets.
Verna Lynne was a member of the First United Methodist Church for 87 years, Women’s
Service Guild and Women’s Society of Christian Service which is now the United
Methodist Women, and was a 42 year member of the PEO Chapter DO all of
Osawatomie.
She was preceded in death by her parents, stepfather, and her husband.
She is survived by one son Burk Barnett and his wife Melinda of Paola, Kansas and one
daughter Sharon Burgoon and her husband Gary of Osawatomie; six grandchildren; nine
and three-quarters great grandchildren; numerous relatives and friends.
Funeral Services will be at 2 pm Sunday, October 17, 2010 at the First United Methodist
Church, Osawatomie with burial in the Osawatomie Cemetery. Visitation will be 5:30 –
8 pm, Friday, October 15, 2010 at Eddy Birchard Funeral Home, Osawatomie, Kansas.
Memorials are to the First United Methodist Church.