of Elaine, AR

June 21, 1937 - February 27, 2021

Jerry Dean Barnes, age 83, of Elaine, Arkansas passed away Saturday, February 27, 2021 in West Memphis, Arkansas. He was born June 21, 1937 in Monette, Arkansas to the late Charlie Emerson Barnes and the late Helen May Pitts Barnes.

After graduating from high school, his family sold their land in Monette and purchased land in the Elaine area. He, his father, and uncles worked to clear their land. He married Fay in 1964 and started his family.

Jerry was active in his community. He was a member of the national guard and later served on Elaine City Counsel, Desoto school board and Booster Club where he was involved in building DeSoto's track and clearing the grove at the end of the football field.

Jerry Barnes is synonymous with words like kind, modest, hardworking and fair. He was a family man and in those times with his family you would see his other sides, energetic, playful, affectionate, silly, and emotional. He loved his family more than anything in the world and was always showing it.

Dip, as he was referred to by close, friends taught many a young person to ski behind his boat at Old River. He was hard working but also loved to play. He went out of his way to visit with people.

In his later years, he enjoyed using his backhoe and road grader and giving his unsolicited advice to his son and son-in-law on their farming practices.

Jerry has left this earth, but we know he'll be watching over the farming operations and all of his family for generations to come.

He is survived by his wife, Fay; son, Lee Neil Barnes (Leigh) of West Helena; daughter, Stephanie Rae Thomas (Brian) of Lexa; grandchildren, Eryn Pittman (Sam), Drake Norman (Sophia), Grayson Thomas, Matthew Barnes, Lindy Kate Barnes, Olivia Barnes and Mary Fisher Barnes; and a great-grandson, Sam Allen Pittman, IV.

Jerry was preceded in death by his parents and his sister, Glenna Billingsley.

A service for Jerry Barnes will be held at 2:00 p.m., Tuesday, March 2, 2021 at Elaine Baptist Church in Elaine, Arkansas. Visitation will begin one hour prior to the service at the church. Burial will be at Sunset Memorial Park in West Helena. Brother Luke Watson will officiate.

Pallbearers are Drake Norman, Matthew Barnes, Grayson Thomas, Sam Pittman,
Roger Williamson, Ross Williamson and Roland Williamson.

Honorary pallbearers are Jerry Caery, Sr., Laymon Piercy, William Flowers, L.K. Holt and James Harold Lawrence.

Memorials may be made to Alzheimer's Disease Research, PO Box 1950, Clarksburg, MD 20871-1950 or to Elaine Baptist Church.

Services will be directed by Roller-Citizens Funeral Home, West Helena, (870) 572-2571. Relatives and friends may sign the online guestbook at www.rollerfuneralhomes.com/westhelena.

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