Norma Elizabeth "Sister" Barnett of Lubbock passed away in her home on August 27, 2024, at the age of 104. Funeral services directed by Lemons Funeral Home of Plainview will be held Wednesday, September 4, 2024, 10:30AM at the New Deal United Methodist Church, 307 S Monroe in New Deal. Burial will follow at Hale Center Cemetery.

Elizabeth was born March 2, 1920, in Hale Center, TX to David and Norma (Wightman) Bates and grew up there. After graduating high school as Salutatorian, she went on to earn her Bachelors degree from Park College in Parkville, MO. Some years later, she achieved her Masters degree at Texas Tech.

Elizabeth met Robert Lee "Bob" Barnett on a bus ride and later married that handsome soldier on March 14, 1943, in Hale Center. She moved East with Bob while he was on active duty in the army. Elizabeth commuted daily to New York to do her part for the war effort as a quality control inspector. After the war, Elizabeth and Bob lived in Muleshoe, Littlefield (where their four children were born), and Plainview. In 2001, they moved out to the country near Lubbock where they spent the rest of their lives.

Elizabeth was a member of and secretary for Trinity United Methodist Church in Plainview. She and Bob were very involved with the church and helped prepare hundreds of gallons of spaghetti sauce for their annual fundraisers. As a teacher, she educated elementary, homebound, and special needs students. She was an award-winning amateur photographer and avid rockhound, birder, and camper all while dealing with her four unruly children.

Elizabeth was preceded in death by her husband, sisters, and brother. She is survived by children, Shirley Stevens and husband Tommy of Lubbock; Neal Barnett of Lubbock, Donald Barnett and partner Debbie Smith of Hudson Oaks, and Richard Barnett and wife Cindy of Lubbock; grandchildren, Kelsey Paige Barnett and husband Robert Owenmiller of Fort Worth, Danny Barnett and wife Leora Feldstein of Atlanta, GA, Matthew Barnett and partner Robin Dodd of Lubbock, Megan Hohorst and husband Trevor of Lubbock, Austin Bowling of Blairsville, GA, Misty Jones of Lubbock, Travis Stevens and wife Sonya of Perry, OK, Chris Andrews of Chicago, and Carrie Hughes and husband Clint of Midland; seven (and counting) great-grandchildren as well as many nieces and nephews.

The family suggests memorials to Windswept Academy in Eagle Butte, SD

(http://windsweptacademy.org)