Obituary and Service in Saline - 15th May

Edgar Murl Barrett, 85, of Saline, died on April 13, 2010 in Harlingen, Texas.  He was born on August 30, 1924 in Nevada County, Arkansas to William Carl and Addie Lee Barrett.

Married Laura Pauline Arnn on August 30, 1952 and settled in Saline.  Since 1988, they enjoyed wintering in Harlingen, Texas.  Ed enjoyed singing and playing bluegrass on his guitar, shooting pool, pitching horseshoes, woodworking, sight-seeing in his motor home, attending athletic and bluegrass events, and various family and friend gatherings.

Ed was the sixth sibling of an Arkansas sharecropper’s family.  He enlisted in the Civilian Conservation Corps in 1940.  Ed joined Army Air Corps in 1943 and his unit, the 345^th Airdrome Squadron was stationed in the China, Burma, and India Theatre during World War II.  He was honorably discharged in 1946.  After Mechanic Trade School in Kansas City, he worked as a car mechanic at various Ford Dealerships in Michigan.  Later, as a diesel mechanic, he worked for Ford Motor Company in Rawsonville and then as a car mechanic at the Ford Dearborn Technology Center, retiring in 1986.

Survived by sons, Ron (Paula) Barrett of Macon, Michigan, Joe (Bonny) Barrett of Coloma, Michigan; granddaughters, Hannah and Chelsea Barrett of Coloma, Michigan; twin sister, Edna Spence of Arkansas; sisters, Oletta Johnson of North Carolina, Juanita DeSpain of Arkansas; brothers, Bob (Nilah) Barrett of North Carolina, Fred (Shirley) Barrett of Arkansas; sister-in-law, Sue Bankston of Alabama, and more than fifty nieces and nephews.  Preceded in death by his wife Laura, in 2003; parents; and brothers, Walter, Othell, and Woodrow Barrett.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to St. Joseph Mercy Hospice, St Joseph Mercy Hospital, Office of Development, P.O. Box 995, Ann Arbor, MI  48106-0995.

A memorial service will take place Saturday, May 15, 2010 at 2:00 p.m. at First United Methodist Church of Saline, 1200 N. Ann Arbor St., Saline with Dr. James E. Tuttle officiating.  Family will receive visitors at 1:00 p.m.