Rosie Clarice Barnes

Rosie Clarice (Keck) Barnes, age 88, of Manhattan, Kansas, went to her heavenly home Friday, June 4, 2021. Rosie was born in Oketo, Kansas on August 26, 1932, to parents Clarence and Minnie Keck. She was born at home on the farm, attended by a local rural doctor. Although August 26 was the birth date recorded by Rosie’s mother, the doctor recorded August 29 on the birth certificate. It is assumed the doctor made a mistake since Rosie was one of eleven children born to the couple. Growing up on the farm, Rosie attended a one-room rural grade school and graduated from Marysville High school. She moved to Manhattan where she attended MCC (formerly Manhattan Bible College) and graduated with an associate degree. She later earned a degree from Manhattan Vocational Technical College and became a Licensed Practical Nurse. Rosie worked as a nurse for nearly 30 years at Via Christi Ascension (formerly St. Mary’s and Mercy Hospital). She was a caring and effective nurse, and she touched many lives during her years of devoted service as a nurse. Rosie met and married Jack L Barnes while attending Manhattan Bible College. She married Jack on March 16, 1951, and they were happily married for nearly 60 years. She liked to say, “two months short of 60 years is close enough to count”. She served as a minister’s wife while he was a minister early in their marriage. Jack and Rosie had 4 children: three daughters and a son. She also opened her home to anyone in need including her younger twin sisters, many nieces, nephews, and foster children as well as her own parents. Although Rosie loved all her family, she had a special relationship with each of her grandchildren. Although she would occasionally have cause to gently reprimand them, she would not tolerate criticism of her grandchildren from others. Each grandchild knew they had a strong champion on their side in Grandma Barnes. Rosie had a life-long love of horses. In her early days on the farm, she and her brother and sisters would climb on the family horse “Prince” and head for the pond where Prince would take 4-5 siblings on his back for a swim. On winter days when it was too cold or snowy to walk to school, they would sometimes ride Prince through the snow to school. Later, when Rosie’s own children were young, a palomino mare named “Silver” became the family horse. She also loved birds, particularly owls and hummingbirds. For many years she carried birdseed through the snow to fill the backyard bird feeders and provided nectar for the hummingbirds in the summers. A dedicated Christian, Rosie served many years as a treasurer and Sunday School teacher at Crestview Christian Church in Manhattan, was a member and Sunday School teacher at Junction City First Christian Church, and later attended University Christian Church in Manhattan. She raised her children to love God and treat others as they would want to be treated, demonstrating her faith by her service and generosity to others. Rosie is survived by her children, Deborah (Ron) Lang of Junction City, Kansas, Cindy (Dann) Leach of Valley Center, Kansas, David (Jay) Barnes of Huson, Montana, and Jacque (Brian) Shane of Alta Vista, Kansas; her 9 beloved grandchildren, Scott, Shawn, Jeremy, Michael, Jesse, Ryan, Mathew, Daniel, and Danielle; 9 great-grandchildren, and 1 great-great-grandchild; her sisters, Hazel (Arlo) Janzen of Hesston, Kansas, Violet Kelley of Lyons, Kansas, and brother Robert (Shirley) Keck of Mona, Utah. Rosie Barnes was preceded in death by her husband Jack L. Barnes (2011); her parents: Clarence and Minnie Keck, her siblings: Harold Keck, Glen Keck, Jesse Keck, Kenneth Keck, Maxine (Keck) Snell, June (Keck) Rice, and Jean (Keck) Sipes. A Celebration of Life memorial will be held at a later time. Memorial gifts may be sent to the Children’s Village at Eden Ministries at https://www.eden-ministries.org/