Grady M Barnes

Grady M. Barnes, 94, of Knollwood Drive, Boone, passed away Wednesday, December 5, 2012. Born June 30, 1918 in Watauga County, he was a son of Romulus Linney and Maude Bumgarner Barnes. Mr. Barnes served in the U.S. Army during WWII. He was a member of St. Elizabeth Catholic Church and retired from Blue Ridge Electric. Mr. Barnes is survived by his wife of 68 years, Helen Bachman Barnes; children: Barbara Henson and husband, Dennis of Mountain City, TN, Caroline Shockley of Vilas,NC, Bob Barnes and wife, Vivian, Margaret Barnes, and Shirley Miller and husband, Walter, all of Boone, NC; ten grandchildren: Allen Henson and wife, Kelly, of Knoxville, TN, Shelia Swift and husband, Greg, of Powell, TN, Bill Henson and wife, Jennifer, of Johnson City, TN, Marc Shockley of Asheville, David Shockley and friend, Christina, of Blowing Rock, Melissa Shockley of Vilas, Dr. Nathan Barnes of Benson, Dr. Scott Miller and wife, Chika, of Honolulu, Hawaii, Emily Cunningham and husband, Justin, of Huntersville, and Garrett Miller of Boone; eight great-grandchildren; and sister-in-law, Bernice Barnes of Naples, Fla. A number of nieces and nephews also survive. He was preceded in death by sisters, Eulala Hodges, Ruth Ledford, and Mabel Mays; and brothers, Kenneth Prince' Barnes, and J. C. Barnes. A funeral Mass will be celebrated Saturday, December 8, 2012 at 1 PM at St. Elizabeth Catholic Church, officiated by Father Dave Brzoska. Burial, with military honors provided the American Legion Post 130, will follow at Mount Lawn Memorial Park & Gardens. The family will receive friends Friday evening from 6 until 8 o'clock at Austin & Barnes. In lieu of flowers, the family suggest memorials to the Father Frank Connolly Endowment Fund, at St. Elizabeth Catholic Church, 259 Pilgrim's Way, Boone, NC 28607, or to St. Jude's Children Research Hospital, PO Box 50, Memphis, TN 38101. Online condolences may be expressed to the family at austinandbarnesfuneralhome.com. Austin & Barnes Funeral Home & Crematory is serving the Barnes family. As requested by family, this obituary is a courtesy of Mountain City Funeral Home, 224 S. Church Street, Mountain City, TN 3683.