Johnnie Dale Barnes

FALL BRANCH - Johnnie "Dale" Barnes, 80, of Fall Branch, went home to Glory on Friday, October 12, 2018, at Indian Path Hospital after a short illness.

Just two months after losing his beautiful wife of 56 years, Carol Ann, they are now reunited in Heaven. Dale was born and raised and lived his entire life in Fall Branch. Known by his CB handle "Red Rooster", he drove millions of miles in his profession as a truck driver, starting at Roy B. Moore and finishing his career at Yellow Freight. Dale loved to hunt and spent many years hunting with his buddies, The Tennessee Ten and the Turner Hunt Club of Brunswick, VA. He was also a chicken fighter and loved nothing better than working with his roosters. He was an accomplished musician who played many instruments and sang. Dale was a farmer at heart and spent his retirement years raising cattle and putting out a community garden that he shared with all. Dale attended Oak Hill Baptist Church.

He is preceded in death by his wife of 56 years, Carol Ann; his parents, Charlie and Ida Barnes; three brothers, Beryl, Kay and Billy; and four sisters, Juanita, Norma Nell, Iva Mae, and Linda.

Dale is survived by his loving and devoted daughter, Leatha Barnes of the home; his much loved grandchildren, Kyle Barnes and wife Heather of the home and Maighdayln Barnes of Kingsport; his joys, great-granddaughters, Caelyn and Alexys, of the home; his son, Allan Dale Mays; grandsons, Noah, Jonah, and Israel, all of Kingsport; his foster daughter, Amy Marie Abdelefattah of Jonesborough and grandchildren, Jasmin, Jessee, and Jayven; sister-in-law, Reba Barnes of Fall Branch; brother-in-law, Orbin Dockery, Jr. of Kingsport; brother and sister-in-law, William and Margie Cline of Venice, FL; brother and sister-in-law, Charlie and Beverly Cline of Nokomis, FL; brother and sister-in-law, Cecillia and Ogburn Taylor of Brodnax, VA; a special surrogate granddaughter, Ashley Navarro; special friend and nieces and nephews, Donna Hite, Becky Hite Phillips and husband Tom, Jake and Jessica Rhoten; adopted "Yankee" family, Deborah Budd, Danny Budd, Nikki Georgine, and Allison Crider and their family.

Dale was a man who never met a stranger and made friends of all he met. He leaves behind best friends, Ron V. Hite, Dr. C.A. Renfro, Jimmy Lane, W.I. Yerby, Orbin Dockery, Jr., Jeff McCrary and Bud Willis, whom he loved and thought of as a son.

The best neighbors in the world, Tommy, Robyn and Madisyn Jones, Ronnie and Patsy Vaughn, and Richard and Mary Nell Webb; special dear friends, Clyde and Martha Tipton, Donnie Knight, and many nieces, nephews, cousins, and many, many friends.

His greatest wish was that his brothers daughters serve as his pallbearers. Pallbearers will be Brenda Cain and Anna Crawford (Beryl), Karen Leimkuhler and Damaris Yost (Billy), and Lillian Compton and Priscilla Moore (Kay).

Honorary pallbearers will be Dwayne Barnes, David Arnold, Jeff McCrary, Phil Anderson, Norman Compton, and Noah Mays.

The family will receive friends from 1 to 4 p.m. on Monday, October 15, 2018, at Hamlett-Dobson Funeral Home, Fall Branch. The service will follow and be conducted by his cousin-by-marriage, Rev. Russell Payne, Jr, and Preacher Victor Wallace. Special music will be provided by family and friends.

A private burial service for family and friends will take place at a later date.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the American Heart Association, 3101 Browns Mill Road, Suite 6, PMB 321, Johnson City, TN 37604.