James Edward Barnett II

James Edward “Chip” Barnett II, a beloved son, brother, father, and friend, passed away on May 14, 2023, leaving behind a legacy of friendship, adventure, and cherished memories. Born on February 6, 1970, in Dallas, Texas, Chip was the son of James Edward Barnett and Sandra Karen Barnett, both of whom preceded him in death.

Growing up in Dallas, Chip attended St. Mark's School of Texas for 12 years, where he made life-long friendships and left an indelible mark as a flame-throwing baseball pitcher. His friends’ hands are still sore from the practice pitches he made them catch in his front yard. Chip graduated from St. Mark's in 1988, moving on to the University of Texas, where he became a proud member of the Phi Gamma Delta fraternity and forged countless memories with his roommates and friends. He graduated in 1992 with a degree in finance.

His successful career as a sales and commercial executive took him to several companies, including a two-year stint in Seoul, South Korea, where he loved living with his family and immersing himself in Korean culture and cuisine. He was universally liked and respected by his colleagues and clients alike, even at the end of a tough negotiation.

Throughout his life, he enjoyed time in nature, especially on and around the lake, swimming, fishing, waterskiing, and hanging out with friends. He loved the 80’s music he grew up with, and all his friends remember Chip with one hand on the steering wheel and the other digging around the glove box for the perfect cassette tape - often REM or the Hoodoo Gurus. He found inspiration and solace in literature, and especially liked Cormac McCarthy and James Salter. His literary prowess was on display throughout his life with witty yet incisive texts about subjects ranging from the state of the government, to great films or TV shows he had seen with his family, to the Dallas Cowboys.

Chip was blessed with many close friends and loved spending time with them throughout his life. His zeal for adventure was matched only by his at times near-absence of common sense, leading to many funny, crazy, and often terrifying “situations” for himself and his friends. Chip’s adventures started at an early age, with his penchant for appropriating a small portion of each of his parent’s different liquors and mixing them in a taco sauce jar… no one remembers that “cocktail” fondly! He also was happy to take any bet proffered to him, even for paltry payments, such as a bet to chew on a dirty ceramics sponge in class (which promptly got him sent to the principal). He loved playing pranks on anyone in his circle, often without provocation, and his Doctor Evil ingenuity is legendary - a college roommate’s morning shower interrupted by a bucket of ice cold water; a friend finding refried beans spread all over the windshield and mirrors of his rental car - the morning it was due to be returned; another roommate discovering his tooth brush had been laced with hot sauce or worse… the list goes on and on. Woe to the person who tried to retaliate, as Chip had no governor and would escalate far beyond any rational boundary in order to establish prankster dominance. Chip's driving skills were also legendary, albeit not in the most positive sense. His Ford Bronco became synonymous with thrilling, hair-raising rides, with the less said about adherence to commonly accepted safety standards the better.

His friends remember most of all his warmth and sense of humor - spending time with Chip meant laughing, a lot - and his unflagging dependability, the willingness to spend time talking to and being there for others whenever they needed it.

He loved his sister Ana and his brother Chance and was always a dependable big brother to them throughout his life, in addition to being a caring and considerate son to his parents Jim and Sandy and a very devoted grandson, particularity to his grandpa Chester.

Of all of Chip’s titles - friend, brother, son, grandson - there was none more important to him than that of father to his two beautiful and beloved children Gabby and Ben. One could scarcely engage in an entire conversation with Chip without him proudly mentioning his kids – the absolute loves and lights of his life. Chip’s dedication to his children and affection toward them was clear in every exchange and he often spoke of their accomplishments with profound delight in both expression and voice. This was a pattern from the time his children were born, and it continued throughout his life - most recently for Ben landing his first job, and for Gabby’s athletic exploits on the crew team at the University of Miami. Ben and Gabby were the greatest source of joy in Chip’s life and his love for them is of a depth that has no beginning and no end. Some of their favorite activities together included epic hiking adventures in Korea or around Lake Georgetown, playing bocce ball in the front yard, and swimming in any cool body of water available (lakes, rivers, country club pool) on scorching hot summer days.

Chip will be greatly missed, and his passing leaves a void in the hearts of so many who loved him and had the good fortune to be part of his life in some way.

He is survived by his son Benjamin Chester Barnett, his daughter Gabriella Sydney Barnett, and his children’s mother, Kelly McClennahan of Georgetown, TX, sister Ana Summers Barnett Wolf and brother-in-law Brandon Bernard (“Bo”) Wolf of Dallas, TX, and his brother Chancellor Bristow (“Chance”) Barnett, of Los Angeles, CA.

A memorial service will be held on Wednesday, May 24, at 2:00 pm at Sparkman/Hillcrest Funeral Home, 7405 W. Northwest Hwy, Dallas, TX.

In lieu of flowers, the family has requested donations be made in Chip’s memory to one of the following charities: the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline, the SPCA, or Autism Awareness.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.Sparkman-Hillcrest.com for the Barnett family.