Marlene Joy Barnett passed away Thursday, May 30, 2024, at her home in Meeker, Oklahoma. She was born in Calumet,Oklahoma,on May8,1935,theyoungest of eight children, to David George and Mabel Lucia Leedy Holly.
Her mother passed away when she was only nine months old. She and her oldest sister, Mildred, were raised by her mother’s sister, Amy, and husband, Sam Auxier, at Hydro, Oklahoma. Her dad remarried and had two sons, Dennis and Ron Holly. She started first grade at Hydro, where she graduated in 1953. She was very active in Girl Scouts, Rainbow Girls, softball and Glee Club and was also a telephone operator. Following graduation, Marlene attended Draughon’s Business School in Oklahoma City. Her first job after graduation was at Firestone Tire Company.
Marlene married Homer O’Neil Barnett in Hydro, Oklahoma, on June 2, 1956. This union was blessed with two children, HollyAnn and Kevin James.They lived in Oklahoma City for the first 15 years of their married life and then moved to Meeker, Oklahoma, in 1971. They purchased the Meeker Variety Store with their partners, Marjorie and Leon Son. Marlene was Town Clerk and Court Clerk for the Town of Meeker for 15 years, retiring on April 1, 2005.
Marlene was a member of Morning Star Baptist Church for several years, serving as church clerk for three pastors: Marlin Emmons, Ron Crews and Roy Wilburn. She served on several committees as well. She most recently was a member of Mammoth Baptist Church in Meeker.
She was a charter member of the Meeker Chamber of Commerce, serving as president in 1989 and 2003, and was chosen Citizen of the Year in 2009. Marlene was selected Friendliest Employee in August 1990 and served on the Meeker United Fund for 11 years. She served on the committee to secure the HUD Senior Housing, known as Greenridge Apartments. Marlene was instrumental in securing a building for the Meeker Historical Society and was their treasurer for several years. She possessed a wealth of knowledge of the town’s history and enjoyed sharing it with other members. She, along with friends DonnaWelch, Gladys Sellers and JoAnn Craig, started the annual Thanksgiving Community Dinner and ran it for 17 years. Marlene enjoyed life and was willing to help in any way to better her church and community.
After they sold the Variety Store, Marlene, her husband, and the Sons traveled extensively. After Homer passed away, her cousin Maxine traveled with Marlene. After Gladys Sellers passed away, Foy was able to travel with them. Foy always had people laughing at the stunts he would pull. Most of them were unintentional, so he said. Nevertheless, he enjoyed traveling with Village Tours.
Marlene was preceded in death by her husband Homer of 49 years; all of her siblings: Marvin, Martin, Maurice, Melvin, Mildred, Mary, Melba Gene, Dennis and Ron; and her cousin, Maxine, whom she was raised with and loved as a sister. She is survived by her daughter, Holly Ann Skinner; son, Kevin James Barnett and wife Shelly; granddaughter, Jenifer, and her daughter Avery; grandson, Kevin O’Neil; sister-in-law Marilyn Holly, of Fresno, California; and former daughter-in-law Shelli Barnett.
Services were held Monday, June 3, 2024, at 1:00 p.m. at Mammoth Baptist Church in Meeker, with Pastor Mike Hall officiating. Burial followed at Meeker New Hope Cemetery. The casket was closed before the services began and wasn’t opened after the services.