Katherine Ann Barnett

Funeral for Katherine Ann Barnett, age 79, of Frederick, Oklahoma, will be held at 3:00 pm Sunday, June 1, 2025, at First Baptist Church Frederick with Pastor Josh Boles and Reverend Charles Wyatt officiating.

A visitation will be held Saturday evening from 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm at the Orr Gray Gish Funeral Home. Burial will be in the Schofield Cemetery, northeast of Frederick.

Katherine Ann Barnett went home to be with Jesus on Monday morning, May 26, 2025.

Kay was born on May 14, 1946, to Katherine Elizabeth and Colonel Edward Hubbard in Fort Worth, Texas. Her mother passed away on her 3rd birthday and her father served in the Air Force, so her paternal grandparents, Ethel and Charlie Hubbard, provided Katherine a special home base in Frederick, Oklahoma, where she graduated from high school. As an only child, she also loved her summers with her mother’s family in Mineral Wells, Texas, cherishing time with her cousins Meg and Stephen Wagner.

Kay began her college journey at Lindenwood University in Missouri before transferring to Oklahoma State University. It was there that a chance meeting over coffee with a familiar face — her high school classmate David Barnett — sparked a love story that would last a lifetime. They were married on August 11, 1967, and spent the next 58 years building a beautiful life together. As an only child, Kay delighted in becoming part of David’s large, close-knit family. She treasured her relationships with her brothers- and sisters-in-law, nieces and nephews, and their children.

While David served in the Air Force and pursued his MBA and Juris Doctorate, Kay began her career in education. She loved to tell stories of their life together — like the time she showed up unannounced at his basic training and boldly demanded to see her husband — but her greatest legacy was not just in her words, but in how she lived: loving fiercely, generously, and without condition.

In December, when Kay was diagnosed with cancer, her prayer was to have more time to “love on her loves.” God graciously granted her five precious months to do exactly that. Her deepest loves were her husband David, their four children, and their grandchildren:

Kristin and Chris Mathis – Andrew, Becca (and Eric and a baby boy due in November), Luke, Sarah and Jake

Melanie and Josh Martin – Brant (and Paisley and their son Hendrix), Sydney, Alexi, and Sam

Jennifer and Todd Holland – Rylie, Carsyn, and Cooper

Stephen and Gabrielle Barnett – Gage (and Cait and a baby due in December), Gunnar, Sawyer, and Katherine Faith

Kay and David made their home in Weatherford, Oklahoma for many years, building lifelong friendships and raising their family in a community they dearly loved. In 1988, they returned to Frederick, where she continued teaching. “Mrs. Barnett” didn’t just teach — she encouraged and loved each student in her classroom.

Though her full time role in retirement was as Granna to 16 grandchildren, Kay continued to serve alongside David in the ministries at First Baptist Church and played an active role in Operation C.A.R.E. in Frederick. She considered herself blessed by so many special friendships.

More than anything, Kay’s life was anchored in her relationship with her heavenly Father. She would want everyone reading this to know the joy and peace of walking with Jesus — the source of her strength, her grace, and her unwavering love.