Catherine "Dee Dee" Barnhart passed away peacefully on January 10, 2021 at WakeMed Cary Hospital. Dee Dee was born in 1929 in Ellis, Kansas the daughter of John and Nora Merrill. She graduated High School in Ellis, Kansas and then went on an earned a Journalism degree at Kansas State University where she was editor of the yearbook. Following college, she earned a Fulbright Scholarship and studied in England.
Dee Dee loved spending time at the local libraries and was a voracious reader, especially mystery novels. When she wasn't changing diapers, playing with her babies or cooking dinner she relished playing the piano. Her home was always the house on the block where all the neighborhood kids would gather. In her spare time she played bridge, enjoyed gardening, and volunteered at the community hospitals. After raising her family, she worked as a medical coder at a city hospital and NCSU Veterinary School.
Dee Dee is survived by her children, Kathy Phillips, Frank Barnhart, Shirley Barnhart, John Barnhart and Christie Nuckolls. She was preceded in death by her sister, Betty Seitz; her daughter, Lynn Bricca and grandson, Steven Bricca. She loved her grandchildren, Leslie, Kelly, Steven, Franklin, Caleb, Jacob, Olivia, Katie, Jack, Luke and William and her great grandchildren, Calton and Savannah in addition to her daughters-in-law and sons-in-law, Julie Barnhart, Carol Barnhart, Skip Phillips, and Jon Nuckolls.
A private memorial service for the immediate family is scheduled on January 22, 2021 at the Brown-Wynne Funeral Home, 200 S.E. Maynard Road, Cary.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to The Presbyterian Homes Foundation, Inc. 109 Sandy Ridge Road, Colfax, NC 27235 on her behalf. The family would like to thank the entire Glenaire Retirement Home community and the nurses and doctors at WakeMed Cary hospital for their excellent care and kindness.
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