The Rev. James F. Barnett of Elkville

James Frank Barnett died Nov. 14, 2017, in Elkville after a short illness. He was 94.

He was born Nov. 1, 1923, in Carlinville to James Russell and Ruth (Van Meter) Barnett. A brother, Donald Barnett, preceded him in death.

He married Ethel Brewer June 30, 1956. She survives.

He moved to East Alton when his father was employed by Standard Oil Refinery in Wood River. The family moved to Bethalto, where he graduated from Bethalto High School in 1940 and from East Alton Wood River High School in 1941. He joined the U.S. Navy in 1941 and served on the U.S.S. Colorado.

He graduated with a bachelor's degree in commerce from Saint Louis University in 1949. While attending Saint Louis University, he was called to preach and then attended and graduated from Asbury Theological Seminary in Wilmore, Ky. He served several churches in all five districts of the former Southern Illinois Conference of the United Methodist Church.

His full-time ministry spanned 37 years, serving five churches in Ohio and 24 churches throughout southern Illinois. He retired from preaching in 1986. After retiring, he began volunteering as a chaplain at the United Methodist Village in Lawrenceville, then also served at Lawrenceville Otterbein and May Chapel for four years.

After moving to Elkville in 2003, he served Elkville UMC and Hallidayboro UMC for 13 months.

Additional survivors include four sons, David of St. Louis, James of Pinckneyville, Stephen of Good Hope and Mark St. Louis; five grandsons; five granddaughters; two great-granddaughters; and one great-grandson.