- Date Of Birth: February 19, 1930
- Date Of Death: November 28, 2020
- State: Idaho
Leslie Cecil Barnett was born February 19, 1930, in San Jose, California, to Cecil Clarence Barnett and Betty DeMaris Barnett.
At the age of 2½, Leslie’s mother and father divorced. His father took him and returned to the state of Oregon where the Barnett family had emigrated to from Texas, by way of covered wagon 45 years earlier. The next time Leslie saw his mother was 20 years later as he stepped off a troop transport ship in San Diego, returning from the Korean War.
During the years of the Great Depression, life was difficult for Cecil and his son, Leslie. They made their way to Yakima, Washington, where Cecil made a living as a farm worker picking crops and driving mule-driven combines in the wheat fields during the harvest. Leslie loved the Yakima River and the winter snow as a child. Through these years, Leslie and Cecil developed a loving bond that would last both their lifetimes.
In 1942, at the age of 12, Leslie and his father moved back to San Jose, California. Leslie always seemed to have a job, whether it was delivering newspapers, working as a “soda-jerk” in the creamery, or working at one of the many canneries in town. In junior high school, he developed an interest in music and sports. He attended Lincoln High School in San Jose, where he played baseball and football. During his senior year, the Lincoln Lions football team was undefeated! He played the saxophone in the Jr. High School band and later in the band at Lincoln High School. After high school, his love of music led him to be a professional musician, playing with the swing and jazz band “Bob Kent and His Orchestra.”
While in his senior year, Les enlisted in the United States Marine Corps Reserve with his best friend, Don Radcliff. They thought it would be fun.
He participated in operations against enemy forces in South and Central Korea from February 17, 1951 to January 29, 1952. He was attached to Item Co.
When Les returned home in March of 1952, he remained in the Marine Corps Reserve until March of 1955. He continued to be a Marine in heart the rest of his life: “Once a Marine, always a Marine.”
In late 1952, on a blind date, Les met the love of his life, a yellow rose from Texas named Willie Jewell Grant. On April 18, 1953, they were married in Reno, Nevada.
Les and Jewell settled down in San Jose, where Les first took a job at Westinghouse, then took a drafting job at a company called IBM. He made a career there that lasted 30 years, seeing him climb the ranks to Staff Engineer. He retired from IBM in 1985.
Along the way Les and Jewell had three children; Steven Leslie, Susan Elizabeth, and Karen Ann. There were many vacations every summer to places like Yosemite, Trinity Lake, Crater Lake, and the Rogue River, among others. Vacations were filled with camping, bike riding, swimming, and fishing. Les and Jewell both were devoted S.F. Giants and S.F. 49ers fans. The family attended many games throughout the years. Candlestick Park was everything it was said to be; cold and windy! But they loved it, what fun! That passion for sports was enthusiastically passed on to their children.
Les loved the outdoors. He taught his children how to fish, and his son to backpack and hunt. He got his daughters involved in 4H; they raised rabbits, sheep, and horses. He taught his son to play baseball, hitting hundreds of grounders for fielding practice, and pitching batting practice until his arm gave out, always after work on the baseball diamond at the local school.
A lifetime of memories were created in San Jose. Jewell’s family, the Grants, were a large, close-knit family. They celebrated almost every holiday together. Les developed very close relationships with all the Grants, but two of Jewell’s brothers, Don and Eddie, were special to Les. They enjoyed each other’s company, hunting and fishing together often.
In 1974, Les fulfilled his dream to be a gentleman farmer, buying four acres of land in San Martin, California, adding a home with a barn and a swimming pool. He kept a horse or two, raised a few head of cattle, and always had beef in the freezer!
After retirement, Les and Jewell took trips around the country in their pickup truck and RV trailer, always enjoying the company of family and friends along the way. Eagle Lake in north eastern California was Les’s favorite destination. Many seasons were spent there in Lassen County hunting and fishing with his son Steve and friend Brian Hillskemper. He loved to sit around a campfire and tell stories! His father Cecil is buried there.
Les and Jewell had two grandchildren, Brendan Gorshe and Alysa Brashear. They were so proud! They always enjoyed the company of their grandchildren, helping them through life’s bumps when they could to help them succeed.
In later years, as the Santa Clara Valley grew, they relocated to Redding California to escape the crowds of the Bay Area. Their good friends Joe and Cathy Kuschell also moved to Redding.
There are many fabulous parties to remember, especially the Halloween parties! The four of them maintained a friendship that lasted decades.
Finally, Les and Jewell settled in Idaho Falls. They instantly loved the baseball in town and became big Chukars fans. Les always looked forward to a “beer and a Brat” at the ballpark, hearing the National Anthem patriotically sung, and the 7th inning stretch when the entire crowd would stand and join in to sing “Take Me Out To The Ballgame.” They loved the holiday dinners and summer barbeques at his son Steve and daughter-in-law Jillyn’s home. He loved Idaho: the winter snow, the mountains, rivers, and especially the fly fishing drifts on the Henry’s Fork with his friend Ken Coughlan.
Leslie was preceded in death by his parents, Cecil Clarence Barnett and Bessie Mae DeMaris Barnett. He is survived by his children, Steven Leslie (Jillyn Ann) Barnett of Idaho Falls, ID, Susan Elizabeth (William) Hayward of La Pine, OR; and Karen Ann McCabe of Prunedale, CA; two grandchildren, and four great-grandchildren. He is loved by many, including Jamie McCabe of Campbell CA; Joe & Cathy Kuschell of Redding CA; the Hillskemper family (Brian, Jan, Jared & Patrick) of Paradise CA; Ken Coughlan of Idaho Falls ID; and Pepper, the talking Lab. He will be missed by all who knew him.
The family expresses their gratitude to the staff of MorningStar Senior Living for their years of love, care, and compassion, and the team at Encompass Health and Hospice for the compassionate end of life care they provided.
