Mrs. Barnes was my favorite teacher and a wonderful friend to my mother.  She was always happy and looked out for the underdog.  Blessing to her family.

Myrna was my 6th grade teacher and our basketball chaperone while at 
Schaller. She was definitely one of my favorites. We called her Mom Barnes because she always had everything along in her bag that we needed in the locker room. What a special person she was and will always be remembered.
                 Karen Witte Malcom

Myrna was remembered for her kind words spoken to me when I was young, always fun & always caring! It would be the holidays or a Saturday night playing cards when we were always together at my grand-parent's house (The Hussey's in Albert City) enjoying her company & her stories of the years teaching. I've enclosed a photo which shows the joy we had together toasting to the happiness we felt toward one & other.....this last toast is to you Myrna for giving me the memories to last my life-time with! Always in my heart, Rinda

Remembering Myrna:  In the loss of a loved one, mother, wife or friend, it is important to remember what was gained.  Some people come into our lives and touch us forever by being a part of it.  A kind look, a  loving touch, or a gentle hand to hold.  A smile that brightens your day, arms that hug you and ears that are always willing to listen.  These are the things that make a person special.  The things that stay in the heart of others forever.  For we have all gained by knowing her.  We will all miss her and cherish the memories given to  us.

The Turner Family:  Carol, Justin, Joshua and Pam
Sacramento, California

Mom it'sdifficult to find the words to tell you how much you have meant to me and how much I have grown to love you.

Some of my favorite memories are when you and I dropped Michelle off at American River College when her choir group went to New York and then we went out to lunch and we talked about Michelle and our future together.

You and Michelle and her bridesmaids drinking shots right before the "I Do's".

The best was when we had plans to go to the aquarium and I told everyone "don't worry I'll take care of Mom" and I did.

There's not to many people in this world who's opinion of me matters, but you are one of the very few that do. I always wanted you to be proud of me.

I know that all you wanted for Michelle was for her to be happy. I haven't always succeeded but I have always tried.

I love you Mom and miss you. I will carry you in my heart forever.

 - Love, Bret

Mom,

Forever in our Hearts!

Love,

Terry

One of my favorite memories of Aunt Myrna is when she decided to join in our baseball game in Chris and Denny's backyard the night of their wedding.  We had such a great time!  You will be missed!

Aunt Myrna, 

you will be missed so much.  Every time we got together as a family, you were the one who always had a smile on your face.   You would always have a story to tell us about your family or the kids you were working with.   Even the last time I saw you, you and my Mom just sat together for hours exchanging stories.   

I will miss you very much, and it is comforting to know that you are no longer in pain, but resting in the Kingdom of Heaven.    I know that you were greeted by your family and friends who have gone before you, which would make you smile even more.  Please say hello to them, especially Grandma Kirk and Raymond.

I love you 

Your nephew 

Ron


Dear Barnes Family,
I was so saddened when Chris Anderson Schultz called me early on the morning of June 21st to tell me the passing of Myrna.  I am so sorry for your loss.  My day was filled with memories of times that I had shared with her.  When Chris called and asked if I would share some of those memories with you, I had too many for the suggested video, so I will use this means to REMEMBER MYRNA.

     Myrna and I were second cousins.  Our Anderson grandfathers were brothers coming from Sweden in the 1800's.  When we were in 6th grade her dad's and my mother's cousin - Erma Anderson, taught us to sing "Children of the Heavenly Father" and "Jesus Loves Me" in Swedish.  We remembered those words (didn't know what they meant) but could sing them loud and clear ( I was mostly loud, Myrna was clear).

     The two of us along with classmate cousins - Verniece and Tom plus those our age that lived out of town - Judy, Karen, and Peggy had a good time at family gatherings.  I was just a second cousin but had no other cousins on that side so was included in the Anderson Relation.  The Andersons always said the Swedish grace before meals and we were called upon to sing at special occcasions with our Swedish repertoire.  Verniece and Judy played the piano, Tom cheered us on - he wasn't a singer.

     Myrna became my forever friend and playmate when we were 5 years old.  She was invited to come to my farm to play, she lived just three blocks away in town.  Jerry, her mother, sent her to play in a pristine white sailor suit with hair curled sporting a big beautiful bow - she looked cute as can be.  We had more fun playing outside and played house making mud pies.  As the afternoon progressed we started throwing the mud pies at each other and Myrna went home looking like a ragamuffin!  (My aim was better than hers).  Years later she confided in me that was the only spanking she ever got from her mother.
 
     Well, Jerry and Andy must have forgiven me because we spent the next years together as playmates and friends.  We learned to roller skate with those clamp on skates that required a skate key, we read every Nancy Drew and Hardy Boy's mystery book the library had to offer and more.  We learned to ride bikes and traveled the town of 700 Swedes, up and down oevery street (no one worried about any one harming children in those days), we played work-up kittenball with all the kids in the neighborhood at the Covenant Church lot, we went to revival meetings at the Free Church (they gave prizes if we knew Bible verses), and acted out plays on her back porch and charged a penny to a nickel to watch - that included lemonade and a cookie.  We knew when it was time to go home bacause the fire siren sounded at 12 noon and six o'clock at night and it was time to eat!

     The town got a theater when we were in third grade and Myrna and I went to almost all the movies that came to town.  It cost a dime and my dad liked to play cards downtown at night so we had a ride home.  We saw "The Scarlet Letter" and "Gone with the Wind" to name a few (this was the 40's and movies weren't rated then).  On Saturday afternoons the movies were free and we saw the "Tom Mix" series and all the good westerns and more.  We learned to swim together at the gravel pit at the Marathon Park.  Then the polio epidemic was on the scene and we rode a school bus to Pocahontas because the pool was chlorinated.  It was COLD so we pretty much got wet, bought our treats and didn't advance too far in the Red Cross program.

     We had "stay at home" moms.  It was fun to go to her home because she had indoor plumbing with a bathtub.  On the farm we had outdoor plumbing called a "two-holer".  Back and forth we stayed at each others homes throughout the school years.  Her mother baked big loaves of white bread and what was really fun, is that the Anderson's had the new thing called margarine to spread on the warm bread. ( We ate butter on the farm).  It came in a big plastic bag and was white with a yellow dye pill in it and we took turns squeezing the bag to make it all yellow.  Jerry also made the BEST breaded pork tenderloin sandwiches and I still use her method. 

     Then Myrna was blessed with a brother, Carl Arvid and later a baby sister, Christine Lee.  It cramped our style a bit as Myrna had responsibilities but it was fun and we learned to baby-sit.  We got 25 cent a hour.  We took on bigger jobs when we walked beans for her dad's boss, Maynard Johnson.  That field is now a subdivision of Albert City.  We made a grand total of $10.00.  Then in Jr. High we worked at the theater selling popcorn and got to see the movies free the nights we worked.  Myrna went into high finance when she got a job as a waitress at the AC cafe owned by her uncle, Kip Anderson.

      At age three We started Sunday School at the Swedish Lutheran Church.  Her mom or my dad drove us every Sunday.  We memorized parts for the Christmas Programs, practiced on Saturday afternnon and then ran downtown for the treats the town provided.  I swear it was a mile from downtown to church.  We were probably pretty "fit".  We were in the same confirmation class when we were in ninth grade and attended every Saturday morning.  We learned to "Bunny Hop" in the church basement that year during our breaks (shame on us)  If there was a school snow day we managed to get to each other's homes or talked on the telephone - her number was 149.

     In Jr. High we decided to be cheeleaders but gave that up for basketball.  Shw was a guard and I was a forward.  We played the 6 on 6 variety and played in the Iowa State Torunament when we were seniors in high school.  Our pictures and memorabilia are in the Albert City Mueseum.  We played in the band, she was a snare drummer.  Our group of six senior gals had a lot of fun together and were in all of the activities together.  She was pretty, wore neat clothes, was smart and fun.  We graduated from Albert City High SChool in the class of 1956 and even had a cousin's party.  The last time I saw Myrna was at our 45th class reunion and it was such fun to see her.

     We both went to college, Myrna to Buena Vista and I was off to Iowa State.  At BV she met Glen Barnes and was married in 1958.  I was honored to be a bridesmaid in their wedding.  In 1960 I married Harlan and was honored to have Myrna as my bridesmaid. We both were married in the Swedish Lutheran Church we were raise in (albeit a new stucture).  Distance seperated us but we always remained friends.

     So dear friend, I will miss; you dearly. But when I get to Heaven, we will find our Anderson grandparents and we will sing "Jesus Loves Me" in Swedish with them, and I promise I will not get your white angel wings dirty!
Love to all,
Audrey Hansen Gutz

Myrna was a good high school friend, one of six of us girls who shared many good times at slumber parties as well as in school activities. Early in high school we frequently double-dated since we were going with brothers.  Perhaps our best memories are the years we played basketball culminating in our participation in the state tournament as seniors. Myrna will be missed by all of us in the Class of '56, but our memories of her will always endure.  - Maryanna (Siekmann Hubbard)

OBITUARY

Myrna Darlene Anderson Barnes

March 14, 1938 – June 21, 2010

Lawncrest Chapel & Memorial Park

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