Basil Barnes Obituary (1945 - 2021)

ALBION—Basil B. Barnes, Sr., 76, of Albion passed away on October 21, 2021, at Maine General in Augusta. He was born in Freedom on April 10, 1945, the son of the late Gardner C. and Verda (Bailey) Barnes. He was born just ½ mile from where he began his lifelong journey as a dairy farmer in Albion. Basil was a self-taught businessman. He was an avid outdoorsman who enjoyed hunting and fishing; a true woodsman that knew his way through the forest. He was a very skilled cribbage player, and would often comment “sit right down here, I won’t charge you extra for the lesson.” Basil could put a smile on anyone’s face. He loved his grandchildren very much. He taught them how to run tractors, and equipment, and how to stack hay bales and firewood. And oh, how he loved to take them fishing. “But Grampy, I didn’t catch any” they would say, and he would tell them, “You’re holding your mouth wrong.” Basil’s jokes and pokes were well known by all his closest family and friends. Besides his parents, he was predeceased by his brother, Gardner R. Barnes. Basil will be sadly missed by his sons, Basil B. Barnes, Jr and his wife, Jennie, and Ricky A. Barnes and his wife, Dawn; his companion of 27 years, Marvel Hutchings; his aunts, Rena Harding, and Natalie Coro; many grandchildren; great grandchildren; and family and friends. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Basil’s memory to Albion Christian Church Burial Fund to help those who have lost a loved one. A graveside service will be held at 1 p.m. on Wednesday, October 27 at Maple Grove Cemetery in Albion with Pastor Brad Taylor officiating.