Raymond Edward Barnes age 89, of Sunset Home, formerly of 1420 Elm, died on Tuesday, April 5, 2016 in the home. He was born October 6, 1926 in Quincy, a son of Raymond E. and Mary M. (Dhondt) Barnes. He married Marilyn T. (Roling) on August 27, 1948 in Quincy, and she preceded him in death on March 25, 2008.

Mr. Barnes was employed by Moorman Manufacturing Co. for 35 years, retiring from his position as General Foreman of the Shipping Department on April 1, 1986. He was a 1945 graduate of Geneva, IA High School. After graduation, he served his country in the U.S. Army during World War II from 1945-1946.

He was a member of Moorman’s 25 Year-Club, and played golf for many years as a member of Westview Golf Club. Ray was a die-hard Cub fan with a wonderful sense of humor. After his retirement he wanted to stay busy and productive and he did so by volunteering for Meals on Wheels for 20 years. When he first offered to help with Meals on Wheels, he was told that he could help one day a week. For Ray, that wasn’t enough and he let them know that, so one day became 3, then 5 and eventually he was asked to help-out on weekends too. That was just how Ray was, willing to do as much as he could to help others.
He also went-out and bought a brand new Shop Smith and his garage became a wood-working shop. He lovingly made cedar chests for each of his children and many other wonderful handcrafted items for his family including cross stitch art and wire working.

A reflection from his grandson, Ryan:
It’s never easy to lose someone you love. Ray Barnes passed away this afternoon at 3:55 PM. To call him my grandpa would be a huge disservice to the bond the two of us had. He was more like a best friend, role model, supporter, advisor, and grandfather all in one. From the times when he taught me to mow his grass where he paid me $20 to mow which took about 20 minutes, it was always the visits afterwards that I looked forward to the most. Sitting on his patio with a glass of Diet Pepsi and talking about the Cubs, that was what life was all about. The two of us went on a bus trip to Milwaukee, Kansas City, and Chicago to watch three baseball games in three different cities. He was at all my youth baseball and basketball games. As I got older and played golf in high school, he gained the nickname GrandPops. He was more than Ryan’s grandpa. He was the team’s GrandPops. He came to so many golf tournaments and was an incredible supporter. One of my favorite memories was from a tournament where he was talking to my mom after one of my shots. Grandpa, even 10 years ago, didn’t have the best hearing and talked very loudly. He tried to whisper to my mom, but I heard him loud and clear as he said “What the heck was he trying to do there?!” after I attempted to hit a low sweeping hook around a tree and over water. I might have the hook down now, but at that time, to him it must have looked like a horrible idea. I hit the tree and ended up further away for my next shot. Even in recent years, he’s been a rock in my life as he looked at houses with me and shared his input about what he’d do with landscaping or new windows or whatever. He came to the vast majority of our team’s slow-pitch softball games (as long as the Cubs weren’t playing at the same time!) I’m extremely grateful that I was able to talk to him Sunday and express my gratitude for everything that he had been to me. I’ll forever remember the life lessons and appreciate the bond that the two of us shared.

Survivors include his children, Cindy East of Quincy; Mary Lynn Trenter of Durham, MO; Tim (Connie) Barnes and Tom (Joan) Barnes all of Quincy.
His sisters, Betty Merfeld of Mason City, IA; Norma (Jack) Creighton of Mason City, IA; Joan (Harold) Behrends of Ackley, IA; twins, Judy (Dave) Begalski of Clear Lake, IA and Jane (Steve) Humphrey also of Clear Lake, IA.
13 Grandchildren
29 Great-Grandchildren and several nieces and nephews also survive.
He was preceded in death by his parents, his wife, his son, Theodore “Ted” Barnes; brothers, Donald and John Barnes; a brother-in-law Lyle Merfeld; 2 grandchildren, Thomas Allen East and Miah Elaine Durk and a great-grand-daughter Evie Willing.

Funeral services will be held on Friday, April 8, 2016 at 11:00 a.m. at Duker & Haugh Funeral Home, by Rev. Martin Eden. Interment will be in Calvary Cemetery with military honors. Visitation will be Thursday from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. at the funeral home. Memorials are suggested to Sunset Home Activities Fund or the Quincy Senior Center.