Updated: Obituary: Clifford Ray Barnes

July 17, 1923 – February 14, 2021

Clifford Ray Barnes, 97, of Bedford, died at IU Health in Bedford on Sunday, February 14, 2021.

Cliff graduated from Beech Bluff High School in 1941. He served in the Army from Feb. 1943 to Feb. 1946. He attended Union University in Jackson, TN.

In 1953 he married Mary Lou Dennison of Maysville, KY, and had 2 wonderful daughters, Jennifer Lynn and Lisa Ann. In 1961 Cliff’s family moved to Huntsville, AL where he worked for the Army at Redstone
Arsenal. He later worked for NASA at Marshall Space Flight Center. 

In 1968 Cliff’s family moved to Bedford and he worked for the Navy at NSWC from which he retired in 1985. After retirement, he was a volunteer Red Cross driver and spent a lot of time visiting people in nursing homes.

Cliff was an avid golfer and although not a great golfer, he was proud of his 2 holes in one and his eagle on the par4 number 7 at Otis. He also loved to play checkers, chess, and bridge. Before the coronavirus hit, he and his 3 special friends, Jerry Mullis, Lowell Dawson, and Jim Hoffman, played checkers and chess every Thursday. 

Cliff loved his family and enjoyed the tradition of celebrating birthdays and holidays together. He was proud of his heritage and visited his family in TN often. 

Cliff is survived by his wife of 67 years, Mary Lou, his daughters Lynn (Vince) Endris and Lisa (Roger) Hoskins, 2 granddaughters and 6 great-grandchildren, his sister Ola Mae Lamb and several nieces and
nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents, 6 siblings, and a granddaughter.

Private funeral services for the family only will be held at the Free Methodist Church with Pastors Reed Beard and Mike Courtney officiating. Burial will follow in Cresthaven Memory Gardens where military
rites will be held.

Family and friends can express condolences at www.daycarter.com

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