SHARON BARNES obituary

CROOKSTON, Minn. Sharon Rae Barnes, 65, died Sunday, Jan. 28, 2007, at her home in Crookston, Minn., from Graves' disease and cancer, with her husband, Frank, by her side.

Sharon Rae Johnson was born Oct. 6, 1941, to Agnes (Rolandson) and Melvin (Slim) Johnson. She was raised on the family farm just south of Oklee, Minn. Sharon was baptized and confirmed at Zion Lutheran Church. She graduated as the salutatorian of the Oklee High School Class of 1959. Sharon's artistic nature and interest in fashion led her to pursue a career in cosmetology. She enjoyed a 20-year career as a beautician, at one time operating the Rudyard Beauty Shoppe with partner Kathy Aspevig from 1973-1977. Sharon later worked at Box Elder School as a behavior support specialist, then as an administrative assistant. She was later employed as an optometric assistant with Dr. Doug Safely and Dr. Larry Obie at the Havre Optometric Clinic. Sharon, however, considered her primary vocation to be that of homemaker. Sharon Johnson married Ronald Remick, also from the Oklee area, on June 30, 1960. They had two sons, Leigh and Jeff. The Remick family lived in several the Montana communities, including Rudyard, Big Sandy and Havre. The couple divorced in 1984. Sharon married Frank Barnes on Nov. 21, 1986. Frank's three children Katie, Tony and Steve became her own. She helped Frank raise Katie, who graduated from Havre High School in 1988. The Barnes family made their home on Heritage Drive in Havre until 1993, when Frank retired from his position as the J.C. Penney store manager. They built a home on Maple Lake, Minn., near her beloved aunt and uncle, Mabel and Wm. (Bill) Seeger. In 1999, Sharon and Frank moved to Crookston, Minn., just down the street from her son. While living in Crookston, Sharon became a member of St. Paul's Lutheran Church and an active participant in the church choir, Joanna-Naomi Circle and WELCA. She served as a board member of the Crookston Civic Music League and Artist Series. She greatly enjoyed her friends in Agassiz Study Club.

Sharon and Frank invested their retirement years together, immersed in Crookston community and school events. They especially loved Pirate athletics. Throughout her life, Sharon was a committed member of the Lutheran church and active in several congregations: First Lutheran Church of Havre; Christ Lutheran Church of Big Sandy; and Our Savior Lutheran Church of Rudyard. Her strong will, resolve and energy as a volunteer served to benefit each community in which she lived. Her greatest joy was her family. She was simply a loving wife, mother, mother-in-law and grandmother. Her father died when she was just 14 years old; Sharon was a devoted daughter, caring for her mother for the next thirty years. Grandma Agnes lived with her in Rudyard, Big Sandy and Havre. Survivors include her husband, Frank Barnes of Crookston; sons, Leigh (Jamie Armstrong) Remick of Louisville, Ky., Jeff (Ingrid) Remick of Crookston, Tony (Melissa) of Kent, Wash., Steve (Teri) of Rupert, Idaho; daughter, Katie (Kenneth) Hoffman of Tampa, Fla .; 10 grandchildren; special uncle, Wm. (Bill) Seeger of Mentor, Minn .; cousin/“brother,” Charles (Jani) Seeger of Fridley, Minn .; and many other relatives and friends. She was preceded in death by her father, Melvin Johnson (1956); mother, Agnes Johnson (1989); and special aunt, Mabel Seeger (1999). Her funeral service will be at 10 a.m. on Monday at St. Paul's Lutheran Church in Crookston, with the Rev. William Reck officiating. Burial will follow at 2 p. m. at Zion Lutheran Cemetery, north of Oklee. Visitation will be held at 2 to 4 p. m. on Sunday at St. Paul's Lutheran Church. A 4 p.m. prayer service will be held. Visitation will also be held one hour prior to the Monday church service.