Mark Eugene Barnes, 69, of Abilene, passed away on Monday, March 18, 2024 in Abilene. He was born on December 6, 1954 in Abilene to the late Radford Eugene Barnes and Glyn White Barnes. Mark was a hard worker with a colorful personality. He always said his favorite part of his job was “joking around with people.” When his kids were young, you could find him coaching his son’s baseball teams, teaching his daughter to play piano, or at peewee football games watching his son play and daughter cheer. Mark loved old westerns and reading books of all genres. But he especially loved music, and you could often find him watching old concerts of his favorite rock and roll bands. Mark was a self-taught musician, and although he knew the piano, his greatest love was playing his guitar. Mark loved a good jam session, but he took exceptional delight in watching his musically inclined grandchildren perform.
Life is much like a song. In the beginning there is mystery, in the end there is confirmation, but it's in the middle where all the emotion resides to make the whole thing worthwhile.
He is survived by two children Justin Barnes and wife Heather of Abilene and Heather Gradke and husband Rustin of Bedford; four grandchildren Thade, Reed, Adalae, and Rowan Gradke; one great-grandchild Siren; and one sister Beth Midori.
