Barney Louis Gillette, 71, of Oak Grove, Missouri, passed away Sunday, July 6, 2008 at Centerpoint Medical Center, Independence, MO. Funeral services will be held at 2:00 p.m. Wednesday, July 9th at Royer Funeral Home, Grain Valley, MO; burial in Koger Cemetery, Oak Grove. The family will receive friends from 6:00 – 8:00 p.m. Tuesday, July 8th at the funeral home.
Barney was born on November 9, 1936, in Claycomo, Missouri, the son of William A. and Lela B. (Reed) Gillette. He was an assembly line worker for General Motors, retiring in 1997 from AC Delko in Olathe, KS, after 35 years of service. Barney was a member and deacon of New Liberty Baptist Church in Oak Grove, and was also a member of UAW #93. He was an avid golfer and enjoyed wood working & fishing. Barney was a co-founder of and will be dearly missed by the “Tuesday 4 O’clock Coffee Club”.
Barney was preceded in death by his parents; his wife, Birdie, in 2000; and one brother, Ace Gillette.
His survivors include two sons: David Gillette of Lone Jack, MO & Dale Gillette & his wife, Melody, of Lee’s Summit, MO; one daughter: D.K. Barr & her husband, Tom, of Oak Grove; seven grandchildren: Rich, Brooke, Victoria, Katelyn & Nathalia Barr, and Lucas & Madeline Gillette; three brothers: Arthur Gillette of Arkansas, Howard Gillette of Oak Grove, & Vester Gillette of Edgerton, KS; three sisters: Judy Good of Ottawa, KS, Chris Mitchell of Fort Scott, KS, & Rose Gillette of Porter, KS; and numerous nieces & nephews.