Barbara Arnett

Barbara Gayle (Ray) Arnett, age 83, of Battle Creek, passed away peacefully on Wednesday, November 15, 2017, at Emerald Forest Adult Care in Marshall where she had been a resident since May 2017.  She was born August 18, 1934 in the town of Hendricks, Magoffin Co, Kentucky, the daughter of Clarence and Rosa (Arnett) Ray. She attended grade school at Hendricks-Magoffin County School for her first three years.  Then she went to live with her Aunt Emily and Uncle Sherman for 9 months where she rode on the back of a horse, with her teacher, going to and from the Magoffin County school.  She went back to Hendricks-Magoffin County School until her family moved to Marshall, Michigan when she was 9 years old. In 1952, she graduated from Marshall High School and then attended Kellogg Community College for a while. During High School, she worked two-part time jobs.  One at State Farm and the other at Hemmingsen Drug Store.  After she graduated, she went full time at Hemmingsen’s working the candy counter and then the hardware section.  Eventually Barb went to work full time for State Farm.  She moved on to work for Smith-Lindroth Insurance in Battle Creek as well as York Reality before beginning a career at Post Cereals.  It was during her tenure there, when she was on the Building 17 Pride Committee, that Barb began a mission to fulfill the dream of a 101-year-old lady’s wish to take her first ride in an airplane.  August of 1988 that wish was granted, and the memory created.  When Barb retired from Post, she was Secretary/Treasurer of the union. It was in Battle Creek, on January 14, 1956, she married Charles D Arnett Sr after corresponding with him for over three years while he was in the military.  In 1989, Barb and her husband bought a local grocery store in Burlington where they owned and operated CD’s Party Store until they both officially retired in 1995 when the business was sold to their son Christopher. Throughout the years and during retirement she visited many places around the world covering all 50 states and provinces of Canada.  But Alaska was her favorite. She and her husband made the trip up the Alaska highway in their motorhome four times staying about three months each time. They also did a lot of cruising -the last one being around the Hawaiian Islands for their anniversary.  They wintered in Texas and Zephyrhills Florida.  She enjoyed playing casino slots and sight-seeing.  One place she would have liked to have spent more time was when they toured the Vatican and Stonehenge.  Barb loved her ice cream and would rather eat a banana split or milkshake unless they were in Europe where she had to have sorbet. She was a member of the Assembly of God Church in Marshall, Eagles and Moose Lodge in Zephyrhills, Florida and life time member in the Order of Eastern Star, Bedford Chapter #471. Barbara is survived by her children:  Debra (Michael) Henry of Pekin, IL, Denise (Dave) Adams of Charlotte and Chuck (Alinda) Arnett, Jr of Battle Creek; five Grandchildren: Michael (Andrea) Henry II, Patrick Henry, Laura (Kyle) Hoover, Holley (Joe) Raleigh and Allison Hancock; seven Great grandchildren: Elijah and Moira Henry, Nolan Vincent, Kylee and Christopher Hoover, Morgan and Caden Raleigh; Sister Esta Smith; many nieces, nephews and cousins.  Barb was preceded in death by her husband Charles D Arnett Sr in 2015, sisters Anna, Irene and Shelba Jean, brother Denzil and in 2002 her son Christopher Arnett. Funeral Services will be held 2:00 p.m. Monday, November 20, 2017 at the Richard A. Henry Funeral Home with interment to follow at Memorial Park Cemetery. The family will receive friends at the Funeral Home on Sunday from 2:00 to 4:00 and 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. www.henryfuneralhome.org