Extracted from The Shreveport Times (Shreveport, LA)
Tuesday, February 5, 2002

Mrs. Norma Gene Barnett

SHREVEPORT, LA - Mrs. Norma Gene Barnett died January 31, 2002 of natural causes associated with diabetes. Her daughters, Laura Hoffman of Charlotte, NC Brenda Camardella of Raleigh, NC and Paula Barnett of Houston, remember her.

She participated in life in all the ways that she could. Gathering fallen pecans with grandchildren from her backyard tree, smelling the fragrance of her magnolias, anticipating the bloom of her beloved dogwoods, enjoying the fellowship of church friends or greeting the meow of the neighbor's cat with morsels of food, she embraced and shared all that God's gift have to offer.

Mother had an easy-way about her. Family, friends and even strangers and neighborhood pets just felt relaxed and at peace in her company. When she would meet new people, her natural focus was on the beautiful qualities of those individuals. Even during times of suffering or moments of sadness, Mother's special relationship with God allowed her to always find that special something to smile about - a quality that brought tremendous comfort to those around her. Quite simply she loved and was loved by everyone who came to know her.

As experienced as she was in the ways of human nature, she, nonetheless, approached every new experience with the wonderment and innocence of a child. To her family and friends, this was a most endearing quality. Her innate sense of curiosity allowed her to find beauty and joy in the most simple to complex of creations, material and natural, so often missed in day-to-day living.

Very patriotic, Mother did not need a special occasion to fly her flag. She was particularly proud of her husband's military service. While both were serving their country at the Pentagon in Washington, DC, Mother met and then married Col. Wendell H. Barnett in 1961. Following tours of duty in Omaha, Nebraska, and Tucson, Arizona, Mother settled with her three young daughters and husband in Shreveport, nearer to her hometown of Ruston, LA and Dodson, LA, her birth place.

Active in the community, she was a 35-year member of Broadmoor United Methodist Church. She served in the Women's Republican Club, the Fleur de Lis Club and the Book of the Month Club.

She succeeds her husband in death (1997). In addition to her daughters and sons-in-law, Jonathon Hoffman and Michael Camardella; five grandchildren, Ian and Preston Hoffman Emily, Audrey and Maggie Camardella; she is survived by her step-son, Chief Warrant Officer IV (USMC) Wendell H. Barnett, Jr., and his wife, Lynn, Carlesbad, Calif; her sister, Rosemary and her husband, Dr. Bill Baldridge, Shreveport; and two brothers, Will Ed Sanders, Minden, LA., and Wilbur Sanders, Atlanta.

Visitation (1 p.m.) and funeral service (2 p.m.) will be held Feb. 6, 2002 at Broadmoor United Methodist Church. The family request that memorials be made to the American Diabetes Association and the Broadmoor United Methodist Church.

Wellman Funeral Home and Forest Park Cemeteries.