John Kenneth “Ken” Barnes, 95, passed away quickly on April 27, 2026. He was born Dec. 6, 1930, to Jewel Kenneth Barnes and Emily Brown Barnes. In 1945, at age 14, his family moved to Snowflake and purchased their home, where he was living at the time of his passing.
Ken graduated from Snowflake High School, served a mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and later served in the U.S. Army during the Korean War. He married Mary Lue Rogers on Sept. 25, 1953, in the Mesa Arizona Temple.
Ken worked as a police officer in Phoenix and later returned to Snowflake, where he worked for the school district as a mechanic and bus driver. He also served his community as a volunteer firefighter and fire chief.
He loved hunting, fishing, family games, Western films and reading.
Ken is survived by his wife, Mary Lue; his children; 23 grandchildren; 57 great-grandchildren; and one great-great-grandchild.
A memorial service will be held at 10 a.m. on Saturday, May 9, at Temple View Chapel in Snowflake, followed by a grave dedication at Snowflake Cemetery.
Owens Livingston Mortuary of Snowflake handled the arrangements.
