Jack D. Barnett

Jack Dale Barnett was born in Detroit, Michigan on November 26, 1943, the son of Dale and Jimmie Barnett. The following years would send him around the world and settle him in such places as Garland, Texas, Washington, D.C., El Paso, Texas, Monroe, North Carolina, Memphis, Tennessee, and finally in 1996, Hardin County, Tennessee.

On May 1, 1988 at the age of 44, Jack married Mackie “Sue” Smith. Together they built a wonderful life, but it was a life marked by periods of separation due to his work. For twelve years, Jack worked for the Garland Police Department in Garland, Texas before embarking on a career as a federal agent with the Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms division of the Department of Justice. Twenty-seven years later he retired and began his third career with the Department of State where he worked as an investigator. His final retirement came ten years later, but not before he was deployed to Iraq in 2008 as a law enforcement consultant; he was 64 at the time. The fifteen months spent there yielded a host of new friends among the Iraqi police force and eventually converted one unit from claiming to be the Iraqi FBI to describing themselves as the Iraqi ATF.

Jack was a true patriot, having served his country as a member of the United States Marine Corps. His passions were many and included his family, golf, Ole Miss games, most anything to do with guns, and working as an auctioneer. He truly enjoyed a good cigar and always looked forward to sharing one with the Old Troubadours, a group of friends gathered from the Counce area. His love of guns led to his membership in the Tri-County Gun and Archery Club and his desire to serve others manifested itself in his role as a Shriner and member of the Garland, Texas Masonic Lodge. Jack was also active in the Hardin County Republican Committee, having served as the Sergeant at Arms.

Jack Barnett left his family and friends for the last time on May 31, 2015, at the age of 71 years, 6 months, and 5 days. In addition to his wife, Sue, of Counce, Tennessee, he leaves four children, Tye Barnett and his wife, Amanda, of DeQueen, Arkansas, Kelley Barnett and her husband, Randy, of Wylie, Texas, Kathryn Barnett also of Wylie, Texas, and Scott Barnett of Missouri as well as eleven grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren. Also surviving are his step-son, Chris Nelon of Texas, his sister-in-law, Carla Woods, and her husband, Jim, of Kankakee, Illinois, and a host of wonderful friends.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Dale and Jimmie Barnett.