Barbara Aleene (Hamill) Barnett , 84 passed from this earth on March 29, 2023 at Calibre Post Acute Nursing Home after suffering a long illness.
Born June 25, 1938 Roswell NM to Samuel Elton Hamill, Sr and Frances Aleene (Little) Hamill. Barbara had an older brother , Samuel Elton Hamill, Jr and a younger brother, Mickey Flint Hamill. Sadly, Mickey did not survive his first year of life and passed in 1947. Barbara and Elton were very close throughout life.
Barbara graduated High School in Roswell and attended secretarial school and worked for the City of Roswell. In 1957 Barbara married the love of her life, Johnny Ray Barnett and settled down as a homemaker and mother to three daughters. Barbara supported Ray and her family all of her life and was a wonderful mother and wife. She loved her country music and afternoon soap operas.
Barbara and Ray moved from Roswell to Vaughn, NM, then back to Roswell for a time. Then Ray was transferred to Pecos, TX and then to Monahans, TX and finally to El Paso where he finished out his career with the gas company. Barbara followed and made a home in all of these places. She always considered New Mexico “home” though. Barbara and Ray would go on vacation every year to see beautiful places like the Grand Canyon and Ouray, Colorado, Four Corners, Ruidoso, etc. The family of 5 took many summer vacations on the road driving and enjoying eating out and roadside hotels. Barbara and Ray always had a Saturday night “date” night throughout their marriage.
Barbara assisted Ray with his vending machine business for a time before his retirement. At his death in 2011, after 54 years of marriage Barbara moved to Las Cruces to be closer to family where she remained until her death.
Barbara was an animal lover and loved to cook and bake. She also was an avid reader with many collections of books and CD’s and VHS tapes (she loved to record her shows!) Barbara attended church services until she was no longer able to at the Church of Christ throughout her life. Although she was quiet and shy and never very social she enjoyed church.
Barbara is survived by her three daughters: Tammy Ruoff (Thomas) Sierra Vista, AZ; Laurie Barnett, Las Cruces, NM; LaJuana Ringer (Jon) Lawton, OK;
Five grandchildren: Dusty Barnett (Gina) Arrey, NM; Sean Ruoff (Elizabeth Hartwigsen, fiancé) Sierra Vista, AZ; Mark Ruoff (Shelby) Seattle, Wa; Krysta Ringer, Lawton, OK; Jonny Ringler (Teresa Cabello) , Lawton, OK.
Five great-grandchildren: Aydan Ruoff, Caroline Ruoff, CJ Harrell, Jaxon Hartwigsen,(All of Sierra Vista, AZ); Adam Maktoury, Arrey, NM .
Sister-in-law Rachel Hamill of Mesa Arizona. Brother and sister-in-law Weldon and Nona Barnett, Roswell, NM. Brother-in-law Larry Barnett, Roswell, NM.
Additional nieces, nephews, cousins and extended family in Roswell and Arkansas .
Barbara was preceded in death by her father Samuel Elton Hamill Sr (1986), her mother Frances Aleene Hamill McFadden (1997), her brother Mickey Hamill (1947) her brother Elton Hamill Jr (2016), her sister in law Francis Farrar Hamill, and her husband Johnny Ray Barnett in 2011.
Services will be at Getz Funeral Home , Tuesday April 4 at 10:00 AM followed by a private family graveside service at the Hatch cemetery. No reception to follow.

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