Loretta A. Barnett

Loretta A. (Hood) Barnett, 84, of Stuart, passed away peacefully surrounded by family May 24, 2019, at her home in rural Stuart. Visitation tribute was from 5 to 7 p.m. Tuesday, May 28 at the Johnson Family Funeral Home in Stuart. A funeral service will begin at 10 a.m. Wednesday, May 29 at Johnson Family Funeral Home — Stuart Chapel. A luncheon will immediately follow the service at New Beginnings Open Bible Church in Stuart. Burial will follow the luncheon in Bear Creek Cemetery. Memorial contributions may be made to the Loretta Barnett Memorial Fund. Online condolences may be left at johnsonfamilyfuneralhome.com.

Loretta was born March 26, 1935, to Cleo and Esther (Schultz) Hood in Newton. She attended Newton schools up until the 10th grade and graduated from Linden High School with the class of 1953. Following graduation, Loretta went to work at the Vernon Company in Newton. She was united in marriage to Bobbie Gene Barnett Nov. 26, 1955, in Newton and to this union, two children were born, Christopher and Kimberly. Bob preceded her in passing on July 29, 2004. Together they lived in Newton, Mitchellville, north of Redfield and the Bear Creek area before buying a farm just outside of Stuart, where they lived since 1973. Loretta was also employed at the Adel Abstract Company and Farm Bureau where she worked for several years before retiring. After a few years of retirement, Loretta decided to work part-time at the Super 8 Hotel in Des Moines. Loretta was a longtime member of the Bear Creek Friends Church where she served on the council and was a member of the USFW. She enjoyed tending to her flower gardens, drawing and attending water aerobics with her friends. Family was the most important thing in Loretta’s life and she just adored her grandson and two great-grandchildren.

She is preceded in death by her parents, Cleo and Esther Hood; her beloved husband, Bob; and two sisters, Betty (Tommy) Turney and Ruth (Jim) Small.

Loretta leaves behind to cherish her memory, her children, Christopher Barnett of Stuart and Kimberly Barnett Shaw of Earlham; grandson, John Shaw of Winterset and his children Landon and Xavier; brother, Gary (Lana) Hood; sisters-in-law, Sharon (Al Jaros) Duffy of Adel and Karen Barnett of Earlham; and a host of nieces, nephews and friends all of whom will miss her greatly.