Verna Jean Sanders Barnes

Verna Jean Sanders Barnes, 74, of Chetopa, Kan., died Thursday, March 16, 2006, at St. John's Regional Medical Center in Joplin. She was born May 27, 1931, in Fairland, Okla., to Robert L. Sanders and Alma (Roberts) Sanders. She and John S. Barnes were married on June 25, 1946 at Columbus, Kan.; he preceded her in death on June 30, 1993. She grew up and attended schools in Fairland.

She first worked at Glen Berry Manufacturing Company in Chetopa and Oswego, Kan., as a sewing machine operator. Later she worked at the Kansas Army Ammunition Plant. Then she worked as a cook at the former Utes Nursing Home in Chetopa and at the Home Place in Oswego. She enjoyed cooking, especially pies, rolls, and chicken and noodles. She also enjoyed playing cards and dominoes and going to Grand Lake.

Survivors include one son, Robert Barnes and his wife Linda, Nevada, Mo.; two daughters, Belinda Lauderback and her husband Paul, Chetopa, Linda Taylor and her husband Ray Miami, Okla.; five grandchildren, Tracy Barnes, Lori Barnes and her husband Ed, Ed Taylor and his wife Laurel, Tinia Ayed and her husband Carim, Travis Lauderback; three great-grandchildren, Robert, Linda Ann, and Ty; one brother, Robert Sanders, Perry, Okla., two sisters, Ann Moore, S.C., Clairnell Davis, Clinton, Okla; numerous nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by three brothers and three sisters, including her identical twin.

Funeral services will be held at 3 p.m., Saturday, March 18, at the Bath-Forbes-Hoffman Funeral Home in Chetopa with the Rev. Jack Wilkinson officiating. Burial will be in the Oak Hill Cemetery. Friends may call at the Bath-Forbes-Hoffman Funeral Home in Chetopa at their convenience. Memorials are suggested to the Galena Nursing Center.