J. Franklin Barton

J. FRANKLIN BARTON

James Franklin Barton, 83, of Gower, Mo., passed away, Tuesday, February 22, 2005.

He was born on February 20, 1922 to James Franklin and Lena (Blau) Barton at the Blau Ranch in Leota, Ks. He moved to the Agency area at the age of two. Later at the age of 8 he returned to Leota, Ks., where he attended Russell Spring School.

On June 14, 1941 he was united in marriage to Carolyn Ring in Marysville, Ks. After their marriage they lived in St. Joseph, and in 1947 they moved to the Gower and Agency area where they made their home. In 2001 they received the Bishops Recognition for one of the longest married couples in the Kansas City-St. Joseph Diocese.

Franklin farmed most of his life. He worked for 12 years at Noma Lites, 5 years at American Electric and 18 years at Beadnall Electric, all in St. Joseph.

He was a member of the St. Joseph?s Catholic Church in Easton, Mo., and the IBEW Union for 50 years. Franklin was also an Alumni Member of the Future Farmer?s of America at East Buchanan High School.

Franklin was preceded in death by his parents, one brother, Harold Barton, one sister, Mary Barton, and daughter, Carolyn (Barton) Amos.

He is survived by his wife, Carolyn, of the home, nine children, Gertrude Beck and husband, Paul, St. Joseph, Mo., James and wife, Christy, St. Joseph, Mo., David and wife, Joyce, Kansas City, Ks., Charles and wife, Kathy, Gower, Mo., Cynthia Graziano and husband, Joe, Beaverton, Oregon, Ted and wife, Jacklyn, St. Joseph, Mo., Lillian Dockery and husband, Rick, St. Joseph, Mo., Harold and wife, Sarah, St. Joseph, Mo., and Franklin and wife, Cathy, St. Joseph, Mo., former, son-in-law, Gene Amos, Gower, Mo., two brothers, Robert, and Sterling Barton, one sister, Emmaline Petrasieh, numerous grandchildren, and great-grandchildren, several nieces and nephews, other relatives and many friends.

Funeral Services: 10:00 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 26th at St. Joseph?s Catholic Church in Easton, Mo.
Burial: 3:00 p.m. Saturday at St. Gregory?s Cemetery, Marysville, Ks.
Rosary at 6:30 p.m. with visitation following until 8:00 p.m. Friday at the Hixson-Klein Funeral Home, Gower, Mo.