John Ray Barnett

John Ray Barnett passed away peacefully on Sept 18th 2022 at the age of 82.  John was born on April 18, 1940 to Charles and Mary Barnett in Martinsburg, Pennsylvania.

John went to school in a one room schoolhouse as a young boy and graduated from Elizabethtown High school in Elizabethtown, Pennsylvania in 1958.  He went on to join the Air Force after high school in 1960.

He married Margaret “Peggy” Irwin in 1965.  They always joked that Peggy ordered John from the AVON lady who was John’s sister Arlene after being introduced by her.  They had a wonderful 57 years together traveling the world, raising a family and making their home in North Berwick, Maine.

John served in the Vietnam War and was stationed at many US bases and in Germany.  He was most proud of his responsibility as head mechanic for the SR-71 Blackbird which was a top-secret Military spy plane.

When he retired from the Air Force after 20 years he moved to Maine and worked as head mechanic at York’s Wild Kingdom, in York Maine for 20 years. In the years that followed his retirement he opened Enrico's Delicatessen with his wife Peggy in Ogunquit, Maine and worked as a toll collector for the Maine Turnpike in York.

John cherished his family and friends. He would do anything for anyone if it was within his ability to do so.  He loved working in his yard, travelling in the RV, eating pizza and “Pomme Frites” aka French fries, and spending time with his children and grandchildren. He had a lifelong love for the Pittsburg Steelers and always had his “Terrible” towel on hand when there was a game. His biggest joy is when he got everyone together and he would start up his commercial cotton candy machine with cotton candy flying in the air!  He loved seeing everyone’s faces and the colored tongues that it gave everyone! John was truly a kid at heart.

John was predeceased by his parents, Charles and Mary Barnett, His sisters, Mildred Hall, Arlene Rogers, Verna Jean Ancelotti, his brother Darl Barnett and great granddaughter Paislee Margaret Oak.

John is survived by his wife, Margaret Barnett of North Berwick, his daughter Barbara Marzoli and her Husband Christopher Marzoli of Berwick, his daughter Amy Joslyn and her partner Ray Robinson of Rockland Maine, his son Jonathan of Newport News Virginia and daughter-in-law Lindsay Barnett of Santee Ca, grandchildren, Ashlee Oak and Lucas Oak, T.J. and Maddie Payeur and Zack and Brittany Payeur, Gregory and Andrew Marzoli, Julian Barnett and great grandchildren Lilly and Harleigh Oak, and Jamie and Owen Payeur.

A memorial service will be held on October 15, 2022 at Johnson Funeral Home in North Berwick Maine from 1pm-3pm.  Family asks that you bring memories and stories of John to share.

COMMITTAL SERVICE WITH MILITARY HONORS WILL BE FRIDAY, MAY 19 AT 2PM IN THE SOUTHERN MAINE VETERANS CEMETERY, 83 STANLEY ROAD, SPRINGVALE, ME.

Family asks in lieu of flowers that you donate to: Tunnels to Towers:  https://t2t.org/donate/

Good Shepard Food: Bankhttps://giving.gsfb.org/give/406217/#!/donation/checkout or St. Jude’s Hospital:

https://www.stjude.org/donate/donate-to-st-jude.html?frequency_selected=2&sc_icid=mem-lp-donate-bttn-top

Arrangements are entrusted to the Johnson Funeral Home, North Berwick, ME. Condolences may be expressed at www.JohnsonFuneralHomeME.com 

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