NEWMAN— Ronald Gene Barrett, 64, of Hume passed away Sunday, July 8, 2018, at OSF Heart of Mary Medical Center, Urbana. He privately and courageously fought a difficult and aggressive esophageal cancer.
A funeral service is 10 a.m. Friday, July 13, at the Joines Funeral Home, Newman. Burial follows in Young America Cemetery, Hume. Visitation is from 4-8 p.m. Thursday, July 12, at the funeral home.
Mr. Barrett was born in Paris Nov. 19, 1953, the son of Gene and Helen Quick Barrett. He married the love of his life, Mary Smothers Barrett Aug. 4, 1973.
He is survived by a daughter, Tara Barrett (Jared) Duzan of Camargo; four grandchildren, Kale Barrett and Ryan Barrett of Villa Grove and Callie Duzan and Coltan Duzan of Camargo; two sisters, Nancy (John) Rotheker of Terre Haute, Ind., and Kay (the late John) Santie of Paris; one brother, Dick (Cathy) Barrett of Fort Meyers, Fla.; and numerous nieces and nephews on both sides of the family whom he loved.
Among the survivors he had special relationships with his son-in-law, Jared Duzan for almost 18 years; his brother-in-law, Gilbert( Linda) Smothers of Benton; and his grandson and special farm buddy and helper Coltan Duzan.
He was preceded in death by his father; and one son, Cory Barrett.
Mr. Barrett was known as the one and only Papaw to his four grandchildren, whom he loved dearly. He was very involved in the community serving on the Shiloh school board for many years and as members of the Hume Lions Club and St. Michael’s Catholic Church.
A graduate of Shiloh High School in Hume, he always stayed in the town he loved. He worked two or three jobs at a time over the years but his first love and passion was farming.
Mr. Barrett farmed for more than 50 years, raising hogs and grain. He was a hard worker and did what he loved until he no longer could and planted his last crop this spring.
Memorial donations may be made to Esophageal Cancer Awareness Association or to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.