John Eugene Barnes Jr.

In Loving Memory John Barnes passed away and went into the arms of his Savior Jesus on Friday, February 28th, 2025, at his home in Oklahoma City. He was surrounded by The Love of His Life, wife Joan, his sweet daughter Melissa and his amazing granddaughter Claire.
John was born in Lawton, OK on December 15, 1943, to Dr. John E. Barnes Sr, and Virginia (Rogers) Barnes. He grew up in a big family of six kids: three sisters, Carol, Linda and Lisa and two brothers, Steve and Paul. He wasn't the oldest sibling, but he was the oldest boy. His siblings loved him dearly and the younger ones thought he was just the coolest big brother because he got them tickets to see the Beatles. John played football and loved his scooter and his car. John did well in school apart from French. His Okie accent just butchered the language of love.
After graduating from Lawton High School, John went to the University of Oklahoma and then continued to the Memphis School of Optometry. While in Memphis, John fortuitously met a beautiful young lady who was also from Oklahoma. As his youngest sister Lisa said, John was just "gaga" over Joan Anderson. They married in September of 1966 and in May of 1967 celebrated John's graduation from Optometry School and welcomed their son Jeffrey Steven Barnes.
John, Joan and Jeff moved back to Lawton, OK, where John joined his father's Optometry Clinic. As he was building his career and making sure everyone's eyeballs were seeing 20/20, he and Joan welcomed their daughter Melissa Carol Barnes. This little family of four was truly one of John's biggest sources of love and happiness. John was very active with Jeff in Boy Scouts. John took Melissa to many violin practices. He sat through many of Jeff's Band concerts and Melissa's Orchestra concerts, that takes some patience!
As a family, they took many trips. There were small trips from boating on Lake Lawtonka and Lake Murray, and bigger trips going to Red River and San Antonio and then the biggest American journey, the long car rides to San Clemente, California. We listened to many 8 track tapes. One song sticks out the most as we drove through the desert, "A Horse with No Name". The Barnes crew also went to Europe, and it remotely was similar to National Lampoon's European Vacation. We were in Switzerland and had taken the tram to the top of a mountain. There was a hiking trail down that everyone said was so easy. John was the smart one and took the tram down while Jeff sprained his ankle, Melissa broke her tailbone and Joan fell at least twice. We emerged out of the bottom of the mountain looking battle worn and my dad just gave us his mischievous smile.
John was also very involved with the Lion's Club and the focus on improving people's vision for all. He worked many a Lion's Club Carnival and had some very funny stories. He practiced Optometry for 50 years and he truly cared for his patients. John's employees were more of a family, and many worked for him for years. A special thank you to Karen Baker and Liz Kelly who ran that office with such efficiency and compassion.
As Jeff and Melissa went off to college and started working, John and Joan went to Europe several times. These great trips were made even better with their best friends, Jack and Judy Bryan and Mike and Sandy Mayhall. My dad loved to get his hair styled in different European cities and the results were hilarious.
As time went by, some of his favorite people, his five grandchildren, came into John and Joan's lives. Jeff and Jennifer had Grant, Jessica and Gavin, and Melissa and Ben had Claire and Hayden. Again, there were many trips to California to see Jeff's family and develop the kind of magical love that exists between grandparents and grandchildren. Once Claire was born in Oklahoma City, Joan told John, "We are moving to OKC" and John said "of course". Claire and Hayden had the incredible experience of living on the same street as Papa and Gigi. So much fun was had at Gigi and Papa's house. Papa liked to take Claire and Hayden out for lunch with his pals Don Davis and Bill Shawn.
John's Parkinson's really started to impact his life ten years ago. Each year it just became more of a menace in his body. John's mind was sharp, but he couldn't move and lost his ability to talk. The family would like to thank Brandy Chambers for taking such loving care of John for four years and Debbie Johnson who also took care of John. John loved their humor, and we loved them for not letting John be too ornery. We would also like to thank Oddesia Cahon and her team, especially Ty and Brittany for their care and support in the last month.
Joan was his main caretaker and went way beyond what she could physically and mentally do. Joan's relationship with Jesus is what gave her beyond human strength. The love they had for each other was there to the very end. In his last weeks on Hospice, John would grab our hands, bring them to his face and kiss them. He would look into our eyes with such love, tenderness, gratitude and devotion. We love you so much. We know your reunion with Jeff, Grant and Hayden in Heaven was just spectacular.
Isaiah 40:31
But those who trust in the Lord will find new strength. They will soar high on wings like Eagles. They will run and not grow weary. They will walk and not faint.
C.S. Lewis
"I have come home at last! This is my real country! I belong here. This is the land I have been looking for all my life."
Memorial services will be held Tuesday, March 18, 2:00pm at Crossings Community Church.