Mr. Clair D. Barnett

December 13, 1927 - July 1, 2014

Clair D. Barnett, who served as Yavapai County Assessor from 1981 to 1992, died July 1, 2014. Mr. Barnett, a resident of Dewey, was 86 years old. He was born in Meyersdale, Pa., on Dec. 13, 1927, and grew up in small Pennsylvania towns. After high school, he worked in coal mines, and then moved to Oregon after an aunt had invited him for a visit. While in Oregon, he met Bessie, his wife of 62 years. They lived in Oregon for a while, before moving to Prescott, where Mr. Barnett first worked for a title company before taking a job in the Assessor's Office. Mr. Barnett's favorite pastimes were outdoor recreation, especially fishing and hunting. People remember him for his contributions to young people. Kathy McLaughlin, president of the Kiwanis Club of Bradshaw Mountain, posted on dCourier.com that, "Mr. Barnett was a charter member of the Kiwanis Club of Bradshaw Mountain and was a faithful supporter of youth programs throughout his decades of membership. "The Kiwanis members of the Bradshaw Mountain club are making a donation to the Kiwanis Eliminate program to memorialize Clair's faithful dedication to improving the welfare of children in our community and throughout the world." The Eliminate program, McLaughlin said, has partnered with UNICEF forces to eliminate maternal and neonatal tetanus, which takes the lives of a significant number of babies and women each year. "Clair Barnett, yours was a life well lived. Thank you," McLaughlin posted. Another reader, Dan Hussey, said on the Courier website, "Clair was always a joy to be around. His hard work and contributions to our community made our town a better place to live. Thanks, Clair. You were a blessing." Mr. Barnett's wife, Bessie, survives him. Services for Mr. Barnett were on July 8, 2014, in Dewey.