Jeanette Barkett, age 86, beloved sister, aunt, great-aunt, cousin and friend, died Wednesday, April 13, 2016 at Good Shepherd Medical Center in Longview. Funeral services are schedule for 2:30pm Friday, April 15 at Trinity Episcopal Church, Marshall, with The Reverend Doctor, John Himes officiating. Interment will be at Algoma South Cemetery immediately following the service. Visitation is scheduled from 6pm to 8pm Thursday, April 14 at Downs Funeral Home, Marshall.

Jeanette was born September 26, 1929 in Shreveport, LA to Charley and Asma Assaf Barkett. At the age of three she and her family moved to Marshall, where she resided until the age of nineteen.

Determined from an early age to get a good education, Jeanette was a 1946 graduate of Marshall High School. She then earned a B.S. degree from East Texas Baptist College in 1949 with majors in mathematics, business administration and secondary education in only two years and nine months. Next, she received a M.Ed. in secondary education from Texas Christian University, and finally a M.A. degree from Stanford University with specialty in counseling and guidance.

Always a dedicated student, Jeannette continued her post graduate studies, completing additional graduate work at the University of California at Berkeley, CA, the University of Texas at Austin and San Jose State University, San Jose, CA. She was very proud to be designated as a Shell Fellow in a summer institute at Stanford, and she later earned year-long Shell residency in mathematics, also at Stanford. She was the recipient of two National Science Foundation scholarships to further her studies in mathematics.

As a strong advocate of public education, Jeanette began teaching at the age of nineteen and spent fourteen years teaching high school mathematics, business and physical education in three Texas school districts at Rio Vista, Cleburne, and Tyler. She also served one year as a senior counselor at Robert E. Lee High School in Tyler. During those years, she sponsored cheerleaders, senior class activities, and National Honor Society.

In 1963 Jeanette, and several teacher peers, moved to California where she began another successful career in California schools. She was a counselor at Santa Cruz High School and spent twenty-four years in the Fremont Union High School District as a counselor, dean of students, dean of curriculum, vice-principal, district coordinator of special education, and principal of the Adult and Community Education at the alternative high school.

Following her retirement she spent five years as an education consultant, specializing in workshops on alternative programs for California school districts and the state organization, California Consortium on Independent Study.

Jeanette held memberships and offices in the Association of California School Administrators, the International Delta Kappa Gamma Society, and the Consortium on Independent Study, the California Council of Adult Education, the California Retired Teachers Association, and the Fremont Union High District Administrators Association. In each of these organizations, Jeanette served as an officer at the local or state level.

In addition to her professional memberships, Jeanette was a member of the Sunnyvale Chamber of Commerce and its Board of Directors, Sunnyvale United Way Board of Directors, Rotary Club, and the Soroptimist International of Sunnyvale-Cupertino.

Locally, she was a member and past president of the Marshall Metro Rotary Club, the Alpha Zeta Chapter of Delta Kappa Gamma Society, and the Marshall-Harrison County Literacy Council.

One of Jeanette's proudest accomplishments was her first trip to Lebanon to take her mother back to visit relatives she had not seen in over fifty years. She fondly remembered that they felt like dignitaries when they landed at the airport and were greeted by over forty relatives. Jeanette loved to travel and visited most of Europe and also Lebanon, Syria, Mexico, Canada, Egypt, Hawaii, and many of the United States. She spent several summers as a camp counselor at a girls' camp in Wisconsin.

Jeanette was an avid reader and an astute card and domino player. She enjoyed the company of a group of dear ladies in Longview who played Mexican Train, and she was always the designated scorekeeper. Proudly, Jeanette was a life member of Trinity Episcopal Church and was a faithful member of the Women of Trinity until illness necessitated her moving to Longview to reside with her sister, Betty Horaney.

Her love of family was evident by the many occasions on which she opened her home for holidays and other family gatherings. She was a dear, loving sister and second mother to her nephews and nieces, continually supporting them in their many endeavors. They truly loved and respected their "Aunt Net", who instilled in them the love and importance of heritage and family.

Jeanette was preceded in death by her parents, grandparents, her brother, George Thomas, and Sam Barkett; sisters, Alice Barkett Thomas and Edna Barkett Gani; nephews, Charles Thomas Barkett and David Walter Barkett.

She is survived by her brother, Johnny Barkett (Mary Lou), of Marshall; sisters, Mary Lois Barkett Fadal (Dr. Ronald O.) of Waco, and Betty Barkett Horaney of Longview; nephews, Dr. Philip John Thomas of Dallas, Dr. Charles Bradford Thomas (Gina) of Galveston, Albert Harry Horaney of Tyler, Ronald Charles Horaney (Faezeh) of Longview, Gregory Floyd Gani (Kathy) of Marshall, Dr. Ronald Nelson Fadal (Dr. Jennifer) of Longview, Robin Scott Fadal (Rita) of Spring; nieces, Becky Westmoreland (Gary), of Texarkana, Karen Ivy (Curtis) of Malvern, AK, Georgia Ann Coscantino of The Villages, FL; special great-nephew, Gregory Barkett Gani, "Little G", and several other great nephews, nieces, and cousins. Another dear cousin, Virgina Nadar, and dear friends, Brenda Abraham, Emma Woodfin, and Laura Muckelroy were all very special to her.

Jeanette is also survived by her devoted friend, Valerie Ayers, who has provided excellent care and support to her and who has been with the Barkett family for over thirty-five years. She is also indebted to Debra Champion and Hazel Faggett for their special care and attention during the past year in Longview.

The family extends their appreciation to Dr. Larry Frase, Dr. Johnasan Gregory, Dr. Andre Gasic, Dr. Glen McDonald and to Dr. Jake Brown and Dr. Gregory Payne for their professionalism and kindness to Jeanette throughout her illness. We are also grateful to the nurses and staff at Good Shepherd Medical Center, Longview and to the Cancer Center, Longview for their outstanding care during her many visits to the Center.

Pallbearers who are proud and honored to serve are her nephews, Dr. Philip Thomas, Dr. Brad Thomas, Al Horaney, Ron Horaney, Greg Gani, Dr. Ronald N. Fadal, Robin Fadal; great-nephew, Gregory B. Gani, and her brother-in-law, Dr. Ronald O. Fadal.

Memories may be made to the Trinity Episcopal Church, St. Jude Children's Hospital, Marshall Metro Rotary Club and Good Shepherd Medical Center, Longview.