Legacy
Iva Barnett
obituaries
Iva Jean Humphreys Barnett, of Somerset, Ky., passed away peacefully at her home on Sunday, Nov. 29, 2009, around sunset. Her devoted husband of 62 years and all her loving children were at her side. She succumbed to a long and valiant battle with Lupus, and was 82 years old.
Mrs. Barnett was born in Watauga, Tenn., on Oct. 16 to the late Eugene and Beulah Humphreys. She graduated from Boones Creek High School in 1946 and took a job with the Western Union Telegraph Company. She was transferred to the Somerset office at the old Beecher Hotel. She fell in love with and married the young mailman who delivered her mail each day at the hotel and pestered her for a date. Together they raised five children, and had a wonderful life.
She was a devout Christian and a long-standing member of the First Christian Church and the Adams Sunday School Class. She had a second career as a registered nurse, graduating from SCC School of Nursing. She practiced at Wayne County Hospital, Lake Cumberland Regional Medical Center and Home Health. She was a founding member of the Parish Nurses and also volunteered her time at Lake Cumberland Hospital and The Center for Rural Development.
She is survived by her husband, Eugene Sears Barnett; her children, Danny Eugene (and Marsha Hawkins) of Corbin, Ky., David Ray (and Amy Hawkins) and William Frank (and Donna Tyree), both of Somerset, Robert Jack Keith of New York City and Kiawah Island, S.C., and Elisabeth Ellen (and Jeffrey Baker) of Somerset; her grandchildren, Lynn Morris (and Steven) of Cary, N.C., Jeffrey Eugene Barnett of Corbin, Jon David Barnett (and Missie) of Culloden, W.Va., and William David Barnett (and Danielle), Thomas Andrew Barnett (and Tonya), Billy Frank Barnett, Corey David Barnett, John Wesley Barnett (and Ashley) and Sarabeth Baker of Somerset; her great grandchildren, Danielle Edwards of Apex, N.C., Kaci Marie and Brett James Barnett of Corbin, Blakeley Morgan Barnett of Jacksonville, Fla., and Elisabeth Erin and Elaina Grace Barnett, McKenzie Barnett and Taylor Hendricks of Somerset; and four siblings, Wava Rumbley of Greenville, Tenn., and Ray Humphreys, Shirley Friday and Brenda Rhea of Gray, Tenn.
She was preceded in death by her brother, Jack Humphreys, of Kingsport, Tenn.
Funeral services will be held on Friday, Dec. 4, at 11 a.m. at First Christian Church in Somerset.
She will be buried at Mill Springs National Cemetery.
Visitation will be on Thursday, Dec. 3, from 6 to 8 p.m. at Somerset Undertaking & Crematory, who will be in charge of arrangements.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Hospice of Lake Cumberland.
She was greatly loved and will be missed by all. May flights of angels sing thee to thy rest.
