Chester F. Barnett

Chester F. Barnett of Fort Scott, Kan. Died Wednesday, March 12, 2008,
 after an extended illness. He was 89.
Chester was born April 6, 1918, in Joplin, Mo., to Evan and Capitola
(Metsker) Barnett.  He lived all his life in Ottawa County, grew up in the
 Douthitt, Picher area and was a resident of Miami before he moved to
Fort Scott in May, 2007. 
During World War 2, he joined the Civilian Conservation Corps at the age of
 16  and served in  Phoenix, Ariz. During that time he took up boxing and won
many Golden Glove tournaments in Arizona and locally.        
He worked for Eagle-Picher Mining for 43 years and the EP Boron Plant in
 Quapaw until retiring in 1978. He also worked part-time for Bomford-Couch
 Insurance Agency for 23 years before retiring at age 86.  He was a member
of the Cardin Baptist Church.    He was a perpetual member of the
 Masonic Lodge for 66 years.

 He married Mary H. Moore on Nov. 5, 1939.  She survives, of the home.
 Additional survivors include one daughter, Gloria Bennett and husband
John of Fort Scott; six grandchildren, Kristen Dunn; John F. Bennett;
 Melinda Bennett; Mark Barnett; Mary Barker and Melissa Scott,
 and 14 great-grandchildren.       
He was preceded in death by one son, Richard "Dick” Barnett in 1978.

Services were 1 p.m. Monday , March 17, 2008 in G.A.R. Cemetery in Miami. 
 The Rev. Lloyd Stone officiated.
 Masonic rites were conducted by the Miami Masonic Lodge No. 140 A.F&A.M.
Memorials are suggested to the Moog Center for Deaf Education in care of
 Paul Thomas Funeral Home of Miami.