(From Mason-Woodard Mortuary)Junior LeRoy Barrett, age 89, of Joplin, Missouri, passed away peacefully on Friday, May 16, 2025, at Wildwood Independent Living in Joplin, surrounded by his children.
Born on November 3, 1935, in Columbus, Kansas, LeRoy was the son of Floyd and Agnes (McCormick) Barrett. He grew up the oldest of six children.
On February 12, 1956, LeRoy married the love of his life, Lorna Hale. They began their life together in Columbus where LeRoy worked for Walbert; Timberlake, and they welcomed four children. The family moved to Loveland, Colorado in 1965 where LeRoy began his thirty-three-year career as a tool and die maker at Hewlett-Packard, ten of which were in Rancho Bernardo, California. LeRoy retired in 1997 to tenderly care for Lorna until she passed of Alzheimer’s in 2005.
In 2007 LeRoy moved back to his hometown of Columbus. He was a faithful member of Calvary Baptist Church where he was involved teaching Sunday School, driving the church van, serving on Building and Grounds, and many other acts of service.
One of his greatest achievements and joys was working alongside his nephew, Mark Barrett, in restoring a family 1919 Fordson F tractor and driving it in the Columbus Day Parade in 2019. LeRoy also loved spending time in his shop “playhouse”.
As a ministry, LeRoy popped popcorn every Friday at Altamont Builders Supply which is owned by his nephew, Paul Reynolds. He was affectionately known as the “Popcorn Man.” His last time to pop corn was on Good Friday this year.
LeRoy was preceded in death by his beloved wife, Lorna; his parents, Floyd and Agnes Barrett; his brother, Marvin Barrett; his sister, Mary Neely and her husband Wayne, brothers-in-law; Calvin Morris and Edward Reynolds, and sister-in-law, Bettie Barrett, mother and father-in-law Lonzo and Edith Hale, Alfred Hale, Gordon Hale, Juanita Jarrett, Alice Houser, Gary Hale and Bill Hale.
He is survived by his four children, Cindy Ewell (Gus) of Loveland, Colorado, Tim Barrett (Brenda) of Columbus, Kansas, Chuck Barrett (Alicia) of Arkadelphia, Arkansas, and Becky Knoll (Jim) of Kyle, Texas. He also leaves behind sister Margie Morris of Cherryvale, Kansas, brother Bill Barrett of Wichita, Kansas, and sister Janice Reynolds of Altamont, Kansas, Jane Alumbaugh of Corpus Christi, Texas and Eva Hale of Tulsa, Oklahoma, 11 grandchildren; Lyndsie Baland, Amanda Cook, Brooke Quick, Chris Barrett, Kady Knight, Barnabas Barrett, Sarah Flowers, Zeb Barrett, Tyler Knoll, Alex Knoll and Vance Knoll; 20 great-grandchildren, and numerous extended family members and friends who will all miss him dearly.
In 2007 LeRoy moved back to his hometown of Columbus. He was a faithful member of Calvary Baptist Church where he was involved teaching Sunday School, driving the church van, serving on Building and Grounds, and many other acts of service.
One of his greatest achievements and joys was working alongside his nephew, Mark Barrett, in restoring a family 1919 Fordson F tractor and driving it in the Columbus Day Parade in 2019. LeRoy also loved spending time in his shop “playhouse”.
As a ministry, LeRoy popped popcorn every Friday at Altamont Builders Supply which is owned by his nephew, Paul Reynolds. He was affectionately known as the “Popcorn Man.” His last time to pop corn was on Good Friday this year.
LeRoy was preceded in death by his beloved wife, Lorna; his parents, Floyd and Agnes Barrett; his brother, Marvin Barrett; his sister, Mary Neely and her husband Wayne, brothers-in-law; Calvin Morris and Edward Reynolds, and sister-in-law, Bettie Barrett, mother and father-in-law Lonzo and Edith Hale, Alfred Hale, Gordon Hale, Juanita Jarrett, Alice Houser, Gary Hale and Bill Hale.
He is survived by his four children, Cindy Ewell (Gus) of Loveland, Colorado, Tim Barrett (Brenda) of Columbus, Kansas, Chuck Barrett (Alicia) of Arkadelphia, Arkansas, and Becky Knoll (Jim) of Kyle, Texas. He also leaves behind sister Margie Morris of Cherryvale, Kansas, brother Bill Barrett of Wichita, Kansas, and sister Janice Reynolds of Altamont, Kansas, Jane Alumbaugh of Corpus Christi, Texas and Eva Hale of Tulsa, Oklahoma, 11 grandchildren; Lyndsie Baland, Amanda Cook, Brooke Quick, Chris Barrett, Kady Knight, Barnabas Barrett, Sarah Flowers, Zeb Barrett, Tyler Knoll, Alex Knoll and Vance Knoll; 20 great-grandchildren, and numerous extended family members and friends who will all miss him dearly.
The family will receive friends and visitors from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. on Tuesday, May 20, at Mason-Woodard Chapel in Joplin, Missouri. A celebration of life will be held on Wednesday, May 21 at 11:00 a.m. at Calvary Baptist Church in Columbus, Kansas. A luncheon will follow.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in LeRoy’s memory to Calvary Baptist Church of Columbus, in care of the mortuary.
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