Mary Helen (Wagner) Barnes

Mary Helen Wagner Barnes, 97, wife of the late Russell Beard Barnes, Jr., passed away Friday, May 21, 2021 at the Hospice Care Center at St. Joseph Hospital in Lexington.

Born May 28, 1923 in Morgan (Kenton County), Kentucky to the late Luther T. & Nola Williams Wagner, she was a devoted wife & homemaker, a loving mother & grandmother, and member of the Berry Baptist Church. Mary greatly enjoyed her life on the family’s dairy farm.

Surviving are 3 sons: Russell B. (Mary Frances) Barnes, III, of Georgetown, John W. Barnes (Larry Holland), of Lexington, and Gordon T. (Peggy) Barnes, of Lancaster; 2 daughters, Billie L. (David) McCombs, of Tunnel Hill, Georgia, and Mary E. (Tony) Phillips, of Cynthiana; a sister, Nelda Perrin, of Berry; a sister-in-law, Anna B. Rankin, of Florence; 12 grandchildren: Kacey Barnes, Jarred Barnes, Maggie (Anthony) Guglielmi, Shea (Taryn) McCombs, Johnny McCombs, Kati (Eric) Baxter, Megan Grayson, Kaci (Rudy) Valdez, Anthony (Adrianne) Phillips, Josh (Samantha) Phillips, Taylor (Alyssa) Phillips and Joshua (Taran) Holland; 14 great-grandchildren and her dear friend, Peggy Perry.

Also preceding her in death were a brother, Edward G. Wagner; 4 sisters: Florence Benson, Gladys Wade and Myrtle & Hallie Wagner; and 4 grandchildren:  Jesse Leach, Elly Barnes, John Luther McCombs and Lisa Gentry.

Services will be 11:00 A.M. Tuesday, May 25, 2021 at Drake-Whaley-McCarty Funeral Home by Bro. Gary Fuller with burial to follow in Battle Grove Cemetery.

Mary’s nephews and grandsons will serve as casketbearers.

Visitation will be after 5:00 P.M. Monday.

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