FUNERAL: Ron Barrett

Ronald Lee Barrett born March 30, 1949, in Kansas City, MO, to John Lee and Ethel Melva (Strickler) Barrett; entered into his eternal rest January 12, 2022, at North Kansas City Hospital, at the age of 72 years, 9 months, and 12 days.

Along with his parents, Ron grew up with his siblings: Edward Hughes, Gerald Hughes, Raymond Hughes, John Barrett, Judith Hughes and Shirley Began.

Ron graduated from Oak Park High School in 1968. After graduation he served in the US Navy in the South Pacific until receiving an honorable discharge in May, 1970.

Now in high school—and actually pictures show back to like 1st or 2nd grade—Ron met a lovely young lady, Barbara Jean Crispin. During those high school days, he rode his horse from the Gladstone area over to Barbara’s house. They became friends, and that friendship grew into a romantic connection. They were married on December 19, 1969. Ron often told Barbara, “You know, God cleared the road for me to get to you.” To the establishment of their home, our Lord added the blessing of three daughters: Sherri, Shauna, and Suzanne.

After the completion of his service in the Navy, Ron began a career which spanned more than 43 years with General Motors at the Fairfax plant. He retired as a lead auto worker in the Material Department in 2013. Ron also served, maybe call it an unofficial additional career, as Chairman of the Zoning Commission for the Village of Claycomo for more than 20 years.

Speaking of Claycomo, Ron and Barbara were married in the church Barbara grew up in—Claycomo Baptist Church…at which point he also became a member of our church family.

Ron was very active in the Masonic fraternity. In just a moment, his brothers will be performing the Masonic and York rites in honor of his dedication and service.

In addition to involvement with the Masonic fraternity, Ron enjoyed traveling—which the family regularly did, especially to Branson…they had season passes to Silver Dollar City, etc. Ultimately, family was priority. He enjoyed spending time with and making them laugh. He would often tease the grandkids…and others would be sure to say, “You know he’s teasing you, right?” Ron’s daughters shared with me that growing up there was an expectation that when they were playing with others in the neighborhood, they should be home before the street lights came on. If not, he would step into the front yard and let out the whistle that could be heard around the world to remind them to get home!

When I asked the family to describe Ron in a single word or phrase, they unanimously said—loving: which he showed in his love for his wife Barbara…which his daughters have never forgotten his wonderful example. He extended this caring, compassion to everyone he could…always doing right by others.

Ron was preceded in death by his parents, John and Ethel; and his siblings, Edward, Gerald, John, Judith, and Shirley. He is survived by his wife of 52 years, Barbara; daughters, Sherri Jenkins (Brian), Shauna Stevens (Larry), and Suzanne Barrett (Philip Croft); eleven grandchildren, Rian, Christopher, Amy, Mary, Robert, Anthony, Austin, Kaitlyn, Ashton, Jason, and Jeniffer; five great grandchildren, Angel, Bane, Remington, Aiden, and Conner; his brother, Raymond Hughes (Nina); and his sisters-in-law, Virginia Barrett and Jean Hughes; as well as numerous beloved nieces and nephews, other family members, and friends.

Masonic & York Rites

Memories - Shauna Stevens

Song - “Scars in Heaven” [Casting Crowns]

Message - 1 Corinthians 13 & Ecclesiastes 3.1-8

Today, I have the privilege of sharing with you all two passages of Scripture which I believe will serve as sources of comfort—especially for you all, family—as you mourn and grieve.

I begin with a passage which Barbara mentioned to me when we were preparing for our time together here today. This passage relates to the wonderful example our Lord sets before us…one which Ron continually endeavored to live out to his wife, daughters, extended family…to everyone he could. That life we talked about earlier which is characterized by love…

1 Corinthians 13.4-8a “Love is patient, love is kind. Love does not envy, is not boastful, is not arrogant, is not rude, is not self-seeking, is not irritable, and does not keep a record of wrongs. Love finds no joy in unrighteousness but rejoices in the truth. It bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never ends.”

Such a beautiful picture, indeed. A worthy goal for all our lives. One, I am thankful, to which Ron did his best to and so often lived up to in his life. (Now, I know that none of us is perfect or always lives like we should 100%…24/7/365; but seeing the goal and continually striving to live it out…is an example we would all do well to incorporate into our lives as well. Especially since that same chapter of Paul’s letter to the Corinthian Christians goes on to say:

1 Corinthians 13.11-13 “When I was a child, I spoke like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put aside childish things. For now we see only a reflection as in a mirror, but then face to face. Now I know in part, but then I will know fully, as I am fully known. Now these three remain: faith, hope, and love—but the greatest of these is love.”

The truth of the eternal endurance of love is most wonderfully seen in our Lord Jesus’ love for us…dying on the Cross for our sin and rising again as our Savior and Lord. This kind of love, to me, is the greatest comfort we could ever receive—right now, for times like this, and for all eternity.

Speaking of the greatness of God, the other passage of Scripture I share with you all today comes from the Old Testament—and is a testimony to the fact that the one true and living God has a plan and purpose…a time…for everything:

Ecclesiastes 3.1-8 “There is an occasion for everything, and a time for every activity under heaven: a time to give birth and a time to die; a time to plant and a time to uproot; a time to kill and a time to heal; a time to tear down and a time to build; a time to weep and a time to laugh; a time to mourn and a time to dance; a time to throw stones and a time to gather stones; a time to embrace and a time to avoid embracing; a time to search and a time to count as lost; a time to keep and a time to throw away; a time to tear and a time to sew; a time to be silent and a time to speak; a time to love and a time to hate; a time for war and a time for peace.”

Since everything we just read is true, we can trust that even the death of a precious loved one of ours does not catch God off guard. When it comes to those who have placed their trust in Him (having repented of sin and committed to follow Jesus with our lives), the Bible also says:

English Standard Version Psalm 116

Precious in the sight of the LORD

is the death of his saints.

Today, I pray that everyone here, family and friends, know the love which saved Ron—and me—and enabled him to continuously seek to love others. I also pray that the “peace of God which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus” our Lord.

Song - “The Lord’s Prayer”

Prayer

Dismissal to Military Honors [Outside Chapel]

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