Gary A Barnett

Gary Allen Barnett , 78, of Missoula, passed away from cancer on Thursday, July 20, 2017, at home with his family.

He was born on Dec. 19, 1938, in Missoula to Halbert and Gladys Barnett. After graduating from Sentinel High School he was an Air Force mechanic for nine years in the Philippines, Thailand and Midway.

After he was discharged from the Air Force, he married Mary Louise Noble on Aug. 9, 1969, in the chapel of the First Presbyterian church of Missoula. They honeymooned at Eddy Peak fire lookout outside of Thompson Falls. He belonged to the American Legion, Travelers Rest, and was an elder and deacon for the First Presbyterian Church. Gary served in the Air National Guard and the Air Force Reserve in Germany, Honduras, Okinawa, and Saudi Arabia for 31 years. He went to Montana State University and graduated with a nursing degree. He worked as a LPN, EMT, CNA, and later as a custodian at Walmart. He and Mary traveled as much as they could in their retirement years and had a chance to see Cairo, Egypt; Japan, Kenya, Panama, Mexico, Columbia, Alaska, Hawaii and the Caribbean.

A loving husband, father and grandfather, he was a helpful and friendly man who had many friends who will miss him very much. Many friends remarked that even during his long battle with cancer; Gary always had a smile, a positive attitude and compassion for others.

Survivors include his wife, Mary, Missoula; daughter Alice (Rickie) Gloria, grandchildren Kyrie and Kele of Missoula; daughter Virginia Barnett, grandchildren Isabella and Samuel Roberts of Pocatello, Idaho; brother Joel (Sharon) Barnett, Oceanside, California; and sister Linda (Larry) Isakson, Russellville, Kentucky.

The service and reception will be on Friday, Sept. 15, at 1 p.m., at the Missoula First Presbyterian Church, with an honor guard ceremony following at 3:30 at Sunset Memorial Funeral Home.