Bassett Family Association Database

Roger Allen Barnhart

Male 1933 - 2016  (83 years)


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  • Name Roger Allen Barnhart 
    Born 1933 
    Gender Male 
    Died 2016 
    Notes 
    • Eureka Times-Standard, September 30, 2016
      Roger Allen Barnhart (1933-2016) (Picture included)

      ROGER A. BARNHART Roger Allen Barnhart of Bayside, Ca was born October 25, 1933 in Lafayette, Indiana. He went on to be with Jesus peacefully on September 14, 2016 at St. Helena Hospital, St. Helena, California after a long battle with heart disease. Roger was preceded in death by his parents Galen and Doris and his brother Joe Barnhart, all tragically from heart disease that runs so strongly in the family. Roger is survived by his loving wife of over 61 years Shirley Barnhart, daughters Cynthia Spangler (Michael), Lisa Harder (Myrdden), and Elaine Barnhart. Their grandchildren are Nathan Spangler, Christopher Spangler (Chloe), Jason Spangler, Katie Harder and Sarah Harder. Roger and Shirley have one great grandson, Lucca Spangler, son of Christopher. Roger is also survived by his sister Janice Barnhart, niece Maria Chevalier, both from Jacksonville, Florida, and nephew Jeff Washburn. He is also survived by his brother in law and good friend Roger Bassett (Shirley's brother), and his nieces and nephews Laura, Dale, Gene, Judy, and Teresa in Colorado; and of course numerous fishing buddies, peers, former co-workers, dear neighbors, and good friends! Roger dedicated his life to Christ at age 12 in the Church of the Brethren in Lafayette, Indiana. He graduated high school in Elkhart Indiana and even then he was a serious fisherman. At age 16, he and his friend Ted Shroyer, built a boat in the Shroyer's garage. They fished the lakes all over northern Indiana, and southern Michigan. His love of fisheries was the reason he chose to attend university in Colorado. He entered the University of Colorado in Fort Collins, Colorado because they had a renowned fisheries program. Howard Tanner was his major professor throughout his college career in Fisheries Biology. The day after he graduated with his Bachelor's degree, he and Shirley Bassett married on June 12, 1955. He continued at the same university, working to earn both his Master's degree, and his Doctorate in fisheries research. They moved to Georgia where he taught Fisheries Science at the University of Georgia. In January 1967 they moved to Arcata where, for 28 years, he taught graduate level courses in Fisheries at Humboldt State University as well as heading the Fisheries Research Unit for the US Fish and Wildlife Service base at HSU. After Roger's retirement in 1995 he spent more time enjoying fishing, especially fly fishing, on the Klammath River for steelhead. He loved tying his own flies, building and stringing his own fly rods and being out on and wading in the river. He really enjoyed the wide open spaces and the untouched wilderness. He had a small "fleet" of boats: one for the ocean, one for the river and a small dory that he hand restored for fishing lagoons. He also had a fold-up boat at one time. He continued to love family camp-outs at Ruth Lake and all family get-togethers, and road trips. He and Shirley traveled to the Cook Islands, Canada, Israel, Egypt and Greece and Mexico enjoying his retirement together. He will be missed by all who knew him. Roger and Shirley have been active at Faith Center Church of Eureka, Ca since January 1979. He recently was unable to attend but still watched the live-stream internet broadcasts every Sunday. He served on the church council for a time, and he and Shirley taught classes for new believers, and were active in the Prime-timers seniors' group. The Barnharts have been long time residents of Bayside, CA and Roger enjoyed doing home improvement projects, tending his garden and apple trees and doing all his own vehicle maintenance! The last couple of years he began to slowly decline and had to sell his boats and much of his gear, but several friends still took him fishing so he could go but they did all the work. He had a heart attack at age 46 in 1979, and had quadruple bypass grafts in Santa Rosa in 1988 at age 55. He changed his eating habits and lifestyle and worked hard to stay healthy. In the last year he had multiple stent or stent clean-out type procedures but none of them worked for long. In September 2016 he was offered one last option: to have another open heart bypass surgery, where they would also fix some of his problem heart valves. Since the only other option was sitting in his armchair, miserable and dying by inches, Roger chose the risk of surgery. His surgery was September 12 and was long but successful at St. Helena Hospital. After the first 24 hours his other organs began failing rapidly and he passed peacefully away on September 14, 2016. A heartfelt Thank-You goes to all the doctors, nurses and healthcare providers and support staff at St Helena Hospital! They provided the best technical and human care imaginable! Roger has left a long and lasting influence on everyone who knew and loved him. His beautiful spirit and his dedication to his Lord will be cherished forever! In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to the Eureka Rescue Mission. www.eurkarescuemission.org. (707) 445-3787. The family is having a memorial service at Faith Center Church in Eureka on Bay Street, on Tuesday October 4, 2016 at 11 am. An informal reception will follow the service.
    Person ID I297  53B Jean Jacque Luis Bassett of Yorkshire, England
    Last Modified 18 Dec 2016 

    Family Shirley Mae Basset 
    Children 
    +1. Cynthia Lee Barnhart
    +2. Lisa Kay Barnhart
     3. Elaine Barnhart
    Family ID F111  Group Sheet  |  Family Chart