Thomas "Barney" Andrew Barnett

Thomas Andrew Barnett (Barney), was born to Fred Allen and Hattie Mae (Briggs) in the mountains of Western North Carolina, in the little community of Antioch, near Hot Springs. He was born the 5th of six children on September 20, 1946. He passed away on April 18, 2021. Tommy worked on the family’s farm and worked for the State Forestry Service, maintaining the Appalachian Trail before graduating from Hot Springs High in 1964. At the age of 17, he was drafted into the Army and soon found himself in Southeast Asia. Tommy served as a medic and military police during his overseas tour. He spent his time in South Korea. After returning home in 1967, he began his work at ENKA and later BASF in Lowland, TN. He was part of the maintenance crew at the plant until it was closed. He met his wife of 52 years, Linda Christine Sinard, while cruising in Newport in 1968. They settled down in White Pine in 1969. After leaving Lowland, Tommy began work with the Town of White Pine. His primary duty was with the water department and helping to ensure water quality for the citizens of the town. A lover of sports and the outdoors, Tommy enjoyed hunting, fishing, searching the fields for arrowheads and in the past 30 years, golf. He developed quite the reputation and many friendships around golf. It is widely known that Tommy loved children and he was especially fond of his grandchildren. Tommy is preceded in death by his parents, sister, Francis Strom, brothers, Neil and Glen. He leaves behind his wife Linda, son, Gregory Scott and his wife Tammy; grandsons, Madison Gray Barnett, Thomas Andrew Barnett II, Zachary Scott Barnett of Knoxville and son, Christopher Shane; granddaughter, Hattie Isabell Barnett, grandson, John Christian Briggs Barnett of Whitesburg. He also leaves behind great grandchildren, Leah Grace Barnett, Benson Gray Barnett and Riley Grant Barnett of Knoxville; sister, Isabell Maynard and Vaughn of Hot Springs, NC. Friends and Family may pay their respects on Wednesday, April 21, 2021 between the hours of 6-8:00 p.m. at Farrar Funeral Home in White Pine. Military Graveside will be Thursday, April 22, 2021 at 2:00 p.m. in Fairview Methodist Church Cemetery, Hot Springs, NC. Farrar Funeral Home strongly encourages all CDC guidelines be followed, including the use of social distancing and facemasks.