George Barnett

George Barnett passed away Monday, Oct. 16, 2000 in Modesto at the age of 80.  Born March 23, 1920 at the Old Madera Sanitarium Hospital in Madera, he was the son of Frederick William Barnett, born in Mariposa in 1880, and Marion Agnes Marchbank, born in Fresno in 1893. He was preceded in death by his brother Bob Barnett in 1990, sister Helen Margaret Deetz in 1970 and son George Frederick Barnett in 1994.

His parents moved to their ranch on the Southeast side of Madera when George was about a year old.

This is now the site of several doctor’s offices and the Madera Com­munity Hospital on Almond Avenue. He went to school at Burbank Grammar School, where the Extension Office is now located, and Lincoln School, which is now the Court House.  He was a 1938 graduate of Madera High School. While attending school he was President of FFA and on the champion livestock judging team in the state. After graduation, he attended Cal Poly in San Luis Obispo for three years. He started working in Yosemite when he was 15 years old during summers, and worked there for 11 seasons in the stables as a guide and backpacker for Yosemite Park and Curry Co.

December 10, 1945, he married Emily Galbraith Davis at the Presbyterian Church in San Luis Obis­po. Together, they had three children.

George was active in many community organizations, was President of the 20-30 Club, a Community Leader of the Cloverleaf 4-H Club, President of Madera County Cattle­man’s Association and was honored as the Cattleman of the Year in 1981. Foreman of the Grand Jury and served on the Federal Jury in Fresno for one year. After retirement in 1983, he served as director of the Madera County Historical Society for many years. In 1992, he served as Grand Marshall of Old Timer’s Day, and in 1999 he and his wife, Emily, were chosen as King and Queen of Old Timer’s Day.

He was a cattleman all his adult life and was the State Brand Inspector for the County of Madera for years. He worked for Producer’s Livestock Marketing Association for over 50 years, where he still worked on Tuesdays.  He was also the Livestock Superintendent at the Madera District Fair and worked at the spring and fall shows at the Cow Palace. During his
lifetime, he was Will Rogers in Yosemite, as well as presidents Roosevelt, Hoover and Reagan.

George is survived by his wife, Emily Barnett of Madera, daughters Marjorie Barnett Danley of Paso Robles, Emily Ann Barnett Koskovich of Homer, Alaska, daughter-in-law Nancy Barnett of Merced, sister Hazel Parks of Selma, grandchildren Kristin Vien­na Barnett, Brian George Barnett, Lee Russell Barnett, all of Merced, and Robert Louis Danley of Paso Robles.

Visitation will be held Thursday, Oct. 19 from noon until 8 p.m. at Jay Chapel. Funeral services will be conducted 10a.m. Friday, Oct. 20 at Jay Chapel. Interment will follow at Arbor Vitae Cemetery.