Jeanette Barrett, 92

Jeanette (Bunch) Barrett was born March 6, 1928, the second daughter of Cecil and Viola (Townsden) Bunch at their home in rural Jewell County, Kansas. She passed from this life at 1:50 a.m. on Sunday, January 17, 2021, at the age of ninety-two years, ten months, and eleven days. She was preceded in death by her husband, Donald; her parents; her sisters, Glora Hoel, Bess Louise Barry, and Cecelia Reystead. Those left to celebrate her life are sons, Don (Charli) of Randall, Kansas, and Brad (Steph) of Beloit, Kansas; grandchildren, Erika Barrett, Jefferson City, Missouri; Kirsten Jones (Nathan), of Beloit; Heather McDonald (Sean), Brewster, Kansas; Shelby and Sydney Barrett, Salina, Kansas; Jake Barrett (Molly), Randall; great-grandsons, Brooks and Jace Jones, and Boone and Porter McDonald. Also left to remember are many nieces and nephews, a host of friends, and caregivers from Hilltop Lodge Assisted Living and Hilltop Lodge Nursing Home.
Jeanette lived on several different farms near Jewell with her parents and three sisters, Glora, Bess Louise, and Cecilia. She attended Jewell schools until the family moved just outside of the city limits of Mankato, and she graduated from Mankato High School with the class of 1946. She met her future husband, Donald Barrett, one evening at the skating rink in Mankato. They were married on April 21, 1948, in the farmhouse where they lived throughout their lives, other than the two winters they spent in California. While there, Donald worked as a mechanic and Jeanette as a secretary. Over the years, Jeanette worked as a secretary at the Jewell County Courthouse, as a secretary/teller at the Randall Bank, and as the Randall Middle School secretary. While a secretary at the school, the principal would dictate weekly bulletins and Jeanette would type them as they talked! Throughout their years of marriage, Jeanette also kept the account books for both the family farm and also for Donald's auto mechanic repair business.
During the summers, Jeanette raised about 50 chicks to butcher size. Gardening wasn't an interest, but she enjoyed sewing, crocheting, quilting, and completing a wide variety of crafts. Exchanging craft ideas and patterns with her sisters was especially enjoyable for her. Her six grandchildren still talk about how much fun it was when Jeanette sat at the piano to play and sing their favorite songs. "Shoo Fly Pie" and "The Teddy Bears' Picnic" were special favorites. Attending church services was very important to her, and she played the piano alongside the organist each week. Part of her responsibilities with the UMW was helping to organize funeral lunches at the church. Jeanette was organized, efficient, and a wonderful cook. Her family loved her huge holiday meals! She was SO efficient, that she would mow with her big riding mower every few days. Donald finally told her, "Just let the grass grow a little!" Favorite activities for Jeanette were shopping with her friends; traveling with Donald, her sisters, brothers-in-law, or other close friends; bowling with her weekly bowling league; and going dancing on Saturday nights with the couples in their group of friends.
Jeanette and Donald moved from the farm to Hilltop Lodge Assisted Living on July 31, 2012, and then she moved over to Hilltop Lodge Nursing Home on June 30, 2016. On January 17, 2021, dementia and complications from the virus finally allowed Jeanette to pass peacefully in her sleep and rejoin Donald and her family in heaven.
Family-only funeral services will take place at 10 AM Friday, January 22, at the Roberts Family Funeral Home. Visitation will be from 1-7 PM Thursday at the funeral home.
Memorials may be given to the Barrett Family, which will be used for the Hilltop Lodge Assisted Living and Nursing Home or Mitchell County Hospital nursing staff.
Roberts Family Funeral Services, Beloit, is in charge of arrangements.
Condolences may be left at: www.robertsfamilyfs.com

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Beloit, KS 67420, USA