William Franklin Barnett |
| Posted 2009-09-16 by Sharon |
| The Wickenburg Sun, Wickenburg, AZ April 20, 2005, B8 William Franklin Barnett William entered life as a Christmas gift. He was born to Harvey (Bill) Franklin Barnett and Carol Leone Mallicoat on December 25, 1950 in Seminole, Texas. His family moved back to Arizona soon after his birth, where his brother Eddie was born less than two years later. When he was just six, his father passed away. His mother remarried, and she and his stepfather Jim Graves had two children. William, Eddie, half-brother John and half-sister Judy lived in the Phoenix area. William also stayed with his grandparents Carl and Helen Mallicoat during part of his high school years, attending Wickenburg High School. William married Lois and had three children, Amber, Caleb and Joshua. He and Lois moved to Oregon for a short time, but returned to Arizona to be close to William's family. William proved to have a natural ability in sales and then as a respected entrepreneur. His business now has 17 salespeople who work all over the United States, and eight employees who work at the local distribution center. His daughter Amber, her husband Don and brother Joshua oversee the company. Caleb has also worked in the business. William recently purchased a beautiful facility on two acres to house his business, which will be carried on by his children and trusted employees. William first noticed a lesion on his arm that failed to heal a year ago. He never gave up hope and encouraged everyone around him to "be positive." He had several operations, chemotherapy, traditional and natural treatments for the melanoma. Last fall, he was told the cancer had spread to his brain; even with this news, he did not give up hope. Many employees have come to spend time with him these last few months. Renae Davidson, a valued employee and close friend, came over from California twice and spent a week helping with his daily care. William's mother Carol, daughter Amber and grandson Anthony all spent a great deal of time caring for and comforting William. In the end, the one who started as a Christmas gift was given a wonderful gift in his friend David Laxton. David, who lost a wife to cancer, spent most of the past four months with William, first as a friend traveling and laughing with him, and then as the one who heard his memories, his pain, his confessions, his hope, and became his daily caregiver. How do you adequately say thank you for a gift like that. Son, father grandfather, brother, grandson, nephew, cousin, husband, employer, friend, as Billie, Bill or William, you will live always in a multitude of hearts. William is survived by his mother Carol Graves, stepfather Jim, children Amber Nees, Caleb Barnett and Joshua Barnett, brother John Graves, sister Judy Graves and grandchildren Dylan, Ryan, Anthony, Ashley, Allicyn, Tara and Chelsey. Services were held April 19 at Frey-Wickenburg Funeral Home, Pastor Dean Stanley officiating. Arrangements by Frey-Wickenburg Funeral Home. |
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