Bettye Thompson Barnett, 86, passed away from heart failure Saturday, July 28, 2012, at her home in Fort Meade.

Born on
Aug. 15, 1925, in Lake Wales, she was the daughter of the late Earl and Winnie Thompson. Mrs. Barnett was a longtime Fort Meade resident. Along with being a homemaker, she was a past president of Peace River Country Club in 1996, a member of First United Methodist Church of Fort Meade, a member of the Lioness Club of Bartow, and a citrus grower.

Mrs. Barnett was a founding member of the Fort Meade Garden Club in 1963. She had served as president continuously since 1981. In 1986 she was honored with a lifetime membership and in 2011 she was inducted into the Florida Federation of Garden Clubs Hall of Fame.

She was also preceded in death by her husband, Jesse Ragon Barnett, Jr.

Mrs. Barnett is survived by a loving family that includes her daughter, Bettye Ann Sykes (Gary) of Fort Meade; her son, Jesse Ragon Barnett, III, (Judy) of Fort Meade; four siblings, Billy Thompson (Janice) of Fort Meade, Earl Thompson (Margaret) of Bartow, Fay Hasty of Lakeland, and Carla Sue Venable (Carl) of Mayo; her grandchildren, Carolyn Presscot (Andy), Catherine Tucker (Travis), Curt Kelly (Verena), Jesse Kelly and Jay Sykes; and her great-grandchildren, Elizabeth Tucker, Emily Tucker, John Prescott, Diedre Prescott, and Drew Prescott.

Visitation: Monday, July 30, from
6-8 p.m., at McLean Funeral Home,
306 E. Broadway, Fort Meade.

Funeral: Tuesday, July 31, at 10 a.m., at First United Methodist Church of Fort Meade, 135 E. Broadway, Fort Meade.

Memorial contributions may be made to the church at the same address. Condolences may be made at www.mcleanfuneralhome.net.