John Barnes

John “Jack” Barnes, 70, died of natural causes Oct. 17, 2010, at the Hi-Line Retirement Center in Malta.

Jack was born in Kalispell on Nov. 11, 1939, to Ray and Irene (McCauley) Barnes. He lived his life on the family farm east of Whitefish and worked with his parents on the farm until 1967, when he went to work at C & C Plywood plant, where he continued work until hurting his back.

While he was disabled, he spent much of his time with the Flathead County Sheriff’s Posse. He served as their major for several years and later went to work at the Sheriff’s Office as a dispatcher and then a detention officer.

Jack worked with the Sheriff’s Office until becoming permanently disabled in 1989. He spent his last two years being cared for by the loving staff at the Hi-Line Retirement Center in Malta.

Jack was preceded in death by his parents, an infant son and his daughter, Missy Barnes-Mueller.

He is survived by his wife, Florence Barnes; son Chuck Barnes and wife Tina, of Gig Harbor, Wash.; grandsons Christopher Barnes, of Seattle, Tyler Barnes, of Iraq, and Jacob Pea,k of Gig Harbor; granddaughters Stephanie Barnes, of Kalispell, and Melissa Lime, of Whitefish; several great grandchildren and the extended Barnes family; and special friends Fred and Gayle Hammond, of Saco.

Mass will be celebrated at St. Charles Catholic Church in Whitefish on Friday, Nov. 5, at 11 a.m. A luncheon will follow at Strom Hall. A private inurnment will take place at a later time.

In place of flowers, the family requests memorials be made to the Kalispell Salvation Army or a charity of choice.