James William (Jim) Barnett

by Lynn McMillen
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James William (Jim) Barnett was born on November 17, 1936 to his parents, Watson and Pearl Barnett. Through the years, many people knew him as “Frog” or “Sonny Boy”. At a young age, he joined the Navy where he served in the Korean War. Following the war, he lived in Oregon where he began a career in music, playing the Bass guitar. The high point of his career, was playing Bass guitar for Jerry Merritt and the Crowns. The band was headed to quite a successful career when they made it to number 56 on the top 100 songs with “Bass Fever”.  Unfortunately, the band broke up due to contract negotiations. At that point, he started logging in Astoria, Oregon.  In 1974, he moved to Iuka, Mississippi with his family. Jim loved to tell stories of his time in the Navy, playing music, and logging. He was also an avid Native American history buff and thoroughly enjoyed looking for artifacts and reading about Native American medicine. If you ever found yourself visiting him, he would show you all of the wonderful talents he had, which included making Indian artifacts, carving wooden bowls, and basically making something out of nothing, which could be seen everywhere you turned. His love of a good story will truly be missed. Jim was a member of the Liberty Church of Christ. He is survived by his son Drew Barnett (wife, Wendy), and his daughter Tina Gillis. Also, his three grandchildren, Tyler Gillis(32), Kaitlin Gillis(26), and Elias Barnett(6). Cutshall Funeral Home of Iuka, MS is entrusted with the arrangements. Graveside services are scheduled for Wednesday, September 2, 2020 at 10am at Oak Grove Cemetery, officiated by David Conley. Burial will be in Oak Grove Cemetery. Memorials may be made in Jim’s honor to Pinevale Children’s Home or to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.

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