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Irene “Lois” Barnett

Irene “Lois” Barnett

1939-2020

Lois Barnett, age 80, of Port Orange, Fla., passed away peacefully at her home, with her daughter Darlene and great grandson Gavin Barnett on Saturday, February 1, 2020.

Born May 3, 1939 in Washington D.C., she was the daughter of the late Mayme (Nurmi) and George Tripe.

A 1957 graduate of Montgomery Blair High School, Lois also attended paralegal school in D.C., which enabled her to work many jobs in her lifetime, but the career she was most fond of was as a paramedic in southeast D.C. She volunteered at the Morgan County Rescue Squad while she passed her EMT and paramedic certifications, and there she found her niche. She loved the excitement of trauma medicine and the thrill of saving people’s lives.

She retired in 1995 and thrived in her log cabin in Berkeley Springs, W.Va., until the warmer climate of Florida called.

Full of pee and vinegar, almost everyone who knew her called her “Mom,” but she was most proud of her three children Darlene Barnett of Port Orange, Fla., Regina Barnett of Virginia Beach, Va., and her son and daughter-in-law Jim and Erin Barnett of Celina, Texas. She is also survived and loved by her grandchildren Veronica LaFranchise of N.Y., Chad Barnett of Harrisonburg, Va., and Kora Barnett of Celina, Texas; her great grandson Gavin Barnett of Port Orange, Fla.; her sister Mary Sandra Tripe of Weed, Calif.; and many cousins, nieces and nephews.

In addition to her parents and husband, she was preceded in death by her brother Robert Tripe and her granddaughter Valerie LaFranchise.

Lois was a lifetime member of the Moose Lodge and was an avid reader and seamstress.

Never losing her sense of humor or purpose, Lois drove right up to the end of her life. A former drag racer, now country roads are taking her home. As Jim says, “Heaven just got a LOT more fun!” We love you and miss you Mom.

A healthcare provider even in death, Lois donated her body to the University of Central Florida.

In lieu of flowers, donations in her name may be made to Morgan County Rescue Squad, P.O. Box 151, Berkeley Springs, WV 25411.

Online condolences and stories will be accepted at dale woodwardfuneralhomes.com.

paid obituary

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