Elbert Horton Barnes

Elbert Horton Barnes, Auditor Elbert Horton Barnes, 81, passed away August 14, 2017, in Bushnell, Florida, just 9 days before his 59th wedding anniversary. Born November 21, 1935, in Montevallo, Alabama, he grew up in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, graduated from Tuscaloosa High School and then received a B.S. Degree in Accounting from the University of Alabama. As an internal auditor he worked for: Hercules Powder Company, Wilmington, Delaware; Juice Corporation, Lakeland, Florida; City of Bartow, Bartow, Florida; and Lee County School District, Ft. Myers, Florida. While in Bartow, he was active in Dixie Youth League Baseball. In Ft. Myers, he was a volunteer football coach at Ft. Myers High School and Cypress Lake High School. He also was involved with the Lee County YMCA Swim Team. His favorite pastime while in that area was salt water fishing. Horton and Marilyn retired to Bushnell in 1996. He enjoyed fishing, camping and traveling, but most of all he enjoyed time spent with his family and friends. Horton was active in the Tri-County Fire Association, the Sumter County Zoning Board, the Sumter County Retired Educators as well as the Florida Retired Educators Association. He was active with the South Sumter High School sports programs as clock operator and booster until the last two years. He was active as a deacon and a Budget Committee member of the First Baptist Church of Bushnell, Florida. He was preceded in death by his father, Elbert Plato Barnes, his mother, Ruth Horton Barnes, and his brother, Ned. He is survived by his wife Marilyn Bracknell Barnes; son, Bert (Cathy) Barnes of New Port Richey, Florida; son, John (Linda) Barnes of Daphne, Alabama; sister, Francis Jordan of Las Lunas, New Mexico; grandsons: Austin of Montgomery, Alabama; Andrew of Daphne, Alabama; granddaughters: Alexia of Long Beach, California; Corinne of New Port Richey, Florida. In lieu of flowers contributions may be made to the First Baptist Church Bushnell building fund, South Sumter High School Booster Club, or the Sumter County Retired Educators Scholarship Fund (P.O. Box 100, Bushnell, FL 33513). Arrangements are entrusted to Beyers Funeral Home and Crematory in Bushnell, Florida, with a funeral service to be held on Saturday, August 19 at 11:00 a.m. with a visitation prior to the service from 10:00 to 11:00 a.m. in the Purcell Chapel at Beyers Funeral Home, Bushnell.

Elbert Horton Barnes

November 21, 1935 - August 14, 2017