Vernon L. Barnes

View Memorial Slideshow Vernon LeRay Barnes, 81, of Wamego, Kansas, died February 20, 2017 at Via Christie Hospital in Manhattan. He was born August 12, 1935 in Hutchinson, the son of Paul Newton Barnes and Florence Alice Hoopes. He was the twelfth of thirteen children. Vernon married (Norma) Jean Shannon in Ottawa, Kansas on December 24, 1955. They were blessed with three children, Lynn, Barbara, and Chris. He graduated from Ottawa University and received a Master’s degree from Kansas State University. He was a lifelong educator and taught at Haven High School, Manhattan High School, Emporia Teachers College, and Kansas State University. After retiring he continued to reach students by substitute teaching at the Wamego High School and working with homebound students. During his life Vernon had an avid interest the sport of debating. As a student he was an award winning debater and he shared this love with his students at various schools. His debate and forensic teams won the highest levels of success including high school state and university national championships. For the past approximately twenty years he has volunteered his service as a tax aide for the AARP Foundation and enjoyed helping people in the local area with their taxes. Vernon had a love of family and spent extensive hours doing genealogical research for both his family and others. He made trips across the country connecting with distant relatives and visiting ancestral sites. Family was important to him. He traveled wherever his children settled and spent time with them, even as far away as Hawaii. Vernon is survived by Jean, his wife of sixty-one years; two daughters, Lynn Enevoldsen (Hal) of Potter, Nebraska, and Barbara Kadish (Matthew) of Hudson, Ohio; one son, Chris Barnes (Julie) of Overland Park, Kansas; eleven grandchildren, Drew, Erika (Revord), Jentz, Hunter, Talia, Donica, and Leif Enevoldsen, Melissa and Zach Kadish, and Nate and Erin Barnes; four great-grandchildren, Laela, Davin, Deker, and Parker Enevoldsen; and one brother, James Barnes of Hutchinson, Kansas; sister-in-law and husband, Donna and Bill Curry of Ottawa, Kansas and many nieces and nephews. A celebration of Vernon’s life will be held at 10:30 a.m. Saturday, February 25, 2017 at Stewart Funeral Home of Wamego. Burial will follow in Wamego City Cemetery. Mr. Barnes will lie in-state at the funeral home beginning at 1:00 p.m. Friday, February 24th, with family greeting friends during a visitation from 6:30 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. In lieu of flowers, memorials are suggested to the “Friends of Atkins-Johnson Farm” and may be left in care of Stewart Funeral Home of Wamego, P.O Box 48, 66547.