Barnes, Patricia "Patti" Fleming

BARNES, FLEMING, ADAMS, ROE

Posted By: Ken Baker (email)
Date: 1/8/2023 at 10:01:29

From Wilson-Watson Funeral Home, Mt. Ayr, Iowa site

Patricia Cerena (Fleming) Barnes was born August 1, 1923, at home near Diagonal to parents, George and Mary Fleming. Patti’s siblings were Ray, Rex, Beatrice and Beverly.

Patricia, at age 14 months, was awarded 1st place and a gold medal in a Baby Health Contest at the 1924 Iowa State Fair. Her sisters also received second and third place awards in respective years.

Graduating with honors from Mt. Ayr High School, Patti went on to take Normal Training instruction and became a teacher in country schools in Ringgold County.

On September 19, 1943, Patti married Richard (Dick) Barnes in Bethany, MO, and moved to a Century family farm in Riley Township where she and Dick worked hard improving the farm and making it a better place to raise their family which included two children -- a daughter, Beverlee, and a son, Terry. Patti enjoyed the farm and cattle. The farm continues to be operated by Grandson Travis and family today. She continued to spend many hours on the farm with Travis, Tessa, Abigail and Dalton. The farm will soon be recognized as a Heritage Farm of 150 years!

Patti loved growing beautiful flowers, woodworking, and artwork – creating many projects as she pleased. She spent 26+ years working at the Medical Clinic in Leon, IA where she made many lifetime friendships. She was very active in the Kellerton United Methodist Church, the school and many community and social organizations including O & E Club, Second Childhood Doll Club, SFL at Mt. Ayr Community Schools and Ringgold County Pioneer Cemetery Board. She spent many hours working to bring rural water into Ringgold County.

Grandma Patti most of all loved spending time with and taking care of her family –all the time remembering the loss of her granddaughter, Somer.

Patti always had a way of making each and every one feel special – sewing Easter suits for her young grandsons! She was loving and caring to everyone around her and always making new friends.

She would host elaborate tea parties with dolls, bears and miniature desserts – only great grandchildren allowed!! Specially decorated birthday cakes for all! She was a faithful Mt. Ayr Raiders supporting her great grandchildren’s sports.

When Dick moved into Clearview Home in Mt. Ayr, Patti decided to move out on her own to Crown Colony in Lamoni, but faithfully visited Dick often until his death in 2012.

She enjoyed the travels with the “Family Seniors” visiting Florida and Arizona at age 93 – always appearing from her hotel room dressed in pretty colored outfits with matching jewelry and hair perfectly styled!! A lady of grace, beauty, laughter and love!

Patti passed away on December 31, 2022, at Clearview Home in Mt. Ayr at the age of 99 years.

Survivors include her children Beverlee (Vern) Adams of Grimes, IA and Terry (Peggy) Barnes of Lamoni, IA; grandchildren Mike (Jenny) Adams of Johnston, Kevin (Brittany) Adams of Des Moines, Travis (Tessa) Barnes of Lamoni, Shannon (Tracy) Barnes of Tingley; great grandchildren Abigail Barnes, Dalton Barnes, Halsie Barnes, Linsie Barnes, Kensie Barnes, Taylor Adams, Josh Adams.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Dick; granddaughter, Somer; her parents, sisters and brothers; brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law; nephew Dan Roe; and other close family members and friends.

Memorials are to the Kellerton United Methodist Church.