Carl Barrett

Carl M. Barrett, 86, passed away at his home Saturday, Jan. 22, 2005. A memorial service will be held at 3pm Monday, Jan. 24, at Austin Avenue United Methodist Church with the Rev. Tom Robbins officiating. A private family burial will be held at Oakwood Cemetery immediately following the service. Mr. Barrett was born October 23, 1918, to Mr. and Mrs. H. V. Barrett in Sherman, Texas. He graduated from Sherman High School in 1936 and afterward attended Austin College in Sherman where he received a football scholarship. Before his graduation in 1939, he began working for Dunn and Bradstreet’s Dallas office. In the same year, Mr. Barrett became the first person in Grayson County to be drafted into the U.S. Army. He served one year in the 36th Infantry and then transferred to the U. S. Navy’s V7 program. He trained at Notre Dame and Northwestern University and saw active duty in the South Pacific, participating in the invasion of Guadalcanal. He was discharged in 1945 having achieved the rank of lieutenant. After his Navy discharge, he became manager of the Dunn and Bradstreet office serving Waco and Austin. In June, 1946, he married Kay Oates of Waco, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Emmette Oates. The following year, he teamed with Tom Jackson to form Jackson and Barrett Insurance and Real Estate in Waco. Many years later, Jackson and Barrett merged with Tom Chase to form Insurors of Texas. Mr. Barrett worked more than 50 years in the insurance business, receiving numerous honors, including the distinction of Honor Guard from Travelers Insurance. Mr. Barrett was active in his church as well as numerous business and civic organizations. He loved Waco and served in a variety of ways. He was a member of Austin Avenue Methodist Church where he served as Sunday School Superintendent for many years. He was also chairman of the building committee for Austin Avenue after the sanctuary was destroyed in a fire in the 1950s. He was President of the Waco Chamber of Commerce, President of the Baylor-Waco Foundation, President of the United Way, President of the Kiwanis Club, President of the Waco Chapter of the Red Cross, President of the YMCA, and President of Ridgewood Country Club. He was also an avid golfer and enjoyed few things more than an afternoon round of golf with friends. Though Mr. Barrett was rarely idle throughout his life, his family always knew they were the most important thing to him. He was a loving and devoted husband, and his daughters thought he was the most wonderful father they could ever have had. He was a hero to his grandchildren who all cherished their “Papa”. He was preceded in death by his father, mother, four brothers, four sisters, and his son-in-law, Dr. Bruce Thomas. He is survived by his wife, Kay; two daughters, Della Thomas and Elizabeth Wicklund; and six grandchildren, Barrett Thomas, Ben Thomas, Sam Thomas, Amy Wicklund Price, Paul Wicklund, and Lindy Wicklund. He also has two great-grandchildren, Aaron and Will Thomas. Pallbearers will be Paul Wicklund, Matt Price, Barrett Thomas, Sam Thomas, Ben Thomas, Rowland Jackson, and Dr. T. H. Jackson. In lieu of flowers, memorials can be sent to the charity of your choice. The family invites you to leave a message or memory in our “Memorial Guestbook” at www.wilkirsonhatchbailey.com. WILKIRSON-HATCH-BAILEY