James "Jim" Louis Barrett

James Louis Barrett, 75, of New Haven, Mo, passed away Saturday, November 9, 2024 at Mercy Hospital, Washington, Missouri. 
 
Jim was born in Washington, Mo. on May 10, 1949, the son of the late Louis W. & Mabel (Schultz) Barrett.
 
He was the husband of Mary Ann D. (Wildt) Barrett  They were united in marriage on October 14, 1972, at St. Francis Borgia Catholic Church in Washington, Mo. Through this union, they were blessed with six children.
 
Jim proudly served his country in the United States Army during the Vietnam War.  He was a member of the American Legion in New Haven, VFW in Washington, Redeeming Grace Presbyterian in Owensville and Newport Presbyterian Church, Washington. 

Jim often spoke fondly of his childhood, entertaining his kids with stories of mischief he got into with his siblings and cousins, and the days in his youth he spent helping his uncles Ralph Barrett and Whip Schultz farm.

Jim always had a knack for the quarry business, and in 1985 he and Mary Ann formed Barrett Materials, Inc.  With Jim’s intuition, guidance, and leadership, the business was able to grow and thrive. Barrett Materials was truly a family affair in the early days, with Mary Ann doing the book keeping, the girls working the scalehouse, and the boys working side-by-side with Jim in day-to-day operations.  Jim was thrilled that the boys chose to follow in his footsteps and loved working with them every day. He was a quarry man until the end.

Jim was also a family man, and enjoyed traveling.  Saturdays would find him out cutting firewood with the kids and nearly every Sunday he would be found behind the wheel taking Mary Ann and the kids out for Sunday drives. Arkansas and trips out west were popular destinations for him, and he was able to have brief touchdowns in Alaska and Hawaii courtesy of Uncle Sam on his way to be stationed in Germany.

Jim rarely met a stranger and always had a big smile on his face.

Jim is survived by his wife, Mary Ann Barrett, of New Haven; a daughter, Jill Shephard & husband William, of Billings, Mo; a daughter, Annette Marshall & husband Chris, of Grafton, Il.; a daughter, Karen Scheer & husband Charlie, of New Haven, Mo; a son, William Barrett & wife Jamie, of New Haven, Mo; a son, Benjamin Barrett & wife Megan, of New Haven, Mo; a daughter, Suzanne Loepker & husband Brian, of Beaufort, Mo; two brothers, Gary Barrett & wife Barb, of Washington, Missouri; and Darrell Barrett & wife Christine, of Washington, Missouri; a sister, Deb Ruether & husband Kevin, of Washington, Missouri; and 17 grandchildren; Colton and Piper Marshall, Kyle, Evan, and Sam Scheer, Rhett and Collins Barrett, Myiah, Austin, Adrienne, Vanessa, Hannah and Isabella Barrett, Caroline, Sophia, Ervin and Clara Loepker.

Visitation will be held Wednesday, November 13th from 4:00 to 8:00 p.m. at Toedtmann & Grosse Funeral Home, New Haven. 
 
Funeral services will be held Thursday at 10:00 a.m. at Newport Presbyterian Church, Washington,  with Pastor Charles Stover officiating. 
 
Interment at Newport Presbyterian Cemetery.  Memorial donations may be given to Redeeming Grace Presbyterian, Owensville, Newport Cemetery Fund or Samaritans Purse.