Vener Barnes

Vener Oliver John Barnes, a cherished husband and father of six, passed away on June 26, 2015 at the age of 86. Vener was born in London, England on November 12, 1928 to William and Alice Snelling Barnes. He immigrated with his family to Texas when he was only two and never thought of himself as anything but a Texan. He grew up in Corpus Christi and served in the Navy on the destroyer USS Cushing during the Korean War. After graduating from the University of Texas, he went on to earn an MBA from Michigan State University. Vener spent most of his working career in the grocery industry and served as president of the Houston Retail Grocers Association. He and his wife, Elizabeth, were the owners of Barnes' Westbury Minimax, where all of their six children worked and learned from them their values of life, love and family. In his retired life he was a proud volunteer for the Lake Mexia VFD and Caritas Mexia. He leaves behind Elizabeth Keating Barnes, his beloved wife of 62 years, and six children: Michael Barnes and his husband John (Kip) Keller; Kathleen and Joseph Klingshirn; Christopher and Julie Barnes; Valerie and Gregory Koehler; Elizabeth Barnes Mills; Thomas and Rebecca Barnes. He also leaves behind 12 grandchildren: Jason Mills, William Koehler, Lauren Barnes Bonetti, Jenna Mills Malden, Mary Barnes, Jennifer Klingshirn, Brandon Barnes, Steven Koehler, Christopher Barnes, Thomas Klingshirn, Collin Barnes, and Katherine Mills. Vener is also survived by his sister, Valerie Barnes Gibbs, of Las Cruces, NM. A Memorial Mass will be 1:00 p.m., Wednesday, July 1, 2015 at St. Cecelia Catholic Church in Houston, Texas, with a reception to follow. Graveside services will be 1:00 p.m., Thursday, July 2, 2015 in the Mexia City Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Lake Mexia VFD, 291 LCR 377, Mexia, TX 76667.

Interment Details

Mexia Cemetery