Lois Ann Barnett, age 59, passed into the loving arms of Our Lord on Friday, March 11, 2016 in Mammoth, California. Lois was born on August 16, 1956 in Bakersfield, California, to George Barnett, Jr. and Linda Barnett. She attended Our Lady of Perpetual Help School, Bakersfield High School, and Saint Mary’s College in Moraga, California before meeting and marrying Michael Kovacevich with whom she had two children (Nicholas born 1979 and Laura born 1982). After separating in 1989, Lois married William Reynal and moved to Argentina. Lois gave birth to her third child, Paula, on August 25, 1992. Throughout her life, Lois had a loving and warm personality and was the life of the party. She cared for her friends and family with a purity of heart that is seldom seen. She loved riding horses, gardening, fishing, cooking, making a beautiful home, and spending time with loved ones. Lois is survived by her parents, George and Linda Barnett, her children Paula Luisa Reynal, Laura Linda Kovacevich, and Nicholas Charles Kovacevich (wife Rebecca), her sisters Jane Hildebrand (husband, Jeffrey), Dixie Blackburn (husband, Gary), Sally Campbell (husband Murray), and brother Buckley Barnett. Lois was predeceased by her brothers George, Danny, and Romaine. Lois leaves behind beloved nieces and nephews: Robert and Marie Hildebrand, Mary Jane Blackburn, Mary Kate and Johnny Campbell, and grandson William Vinson. Lois leaves behind her companion, Robert Tornstrom, with whom she spent many of her final years. As part of the pioneer “Barnett/Clerou” family, Lois spent many wonderful days visiting with her “Grandmére,” Marie Barnett in her kitchen at her beautiful home on Elm Street, enjoying stories of the Clerou family and her uncle, Dr. Romaine Clerou and his stories about being the Bakersfield College Renegades team physician. Lois treasured the time she spent with her cousins, Claire Elise Clerou and Megan (Sill) Phillips. It was always a contest to see who the best card player was and who the best story-teller was. She loved her relatives from Texas, especially her Aunt Stormy, who when she attended the University of Texas, was known, along with Farah Fawcett, as the “Gold Dust Twins,” due to their vivacious nature and flowing golden hair. Both of Lois’s daughters, Laura and Paula, inherited this natural beauty and ebullience from Lois’s mother’s Texas side of the family. As they say, “You can always tell a Texan, but you can’t tell them much.” Lois loved Bakersfield, and although she traveled the world, she returned to live in her native city. So, it can be said that “Bakersfield loved her.” She will be greatly missed by her family and her friends.

Visitation will be held on Sunday, March 20th, 2016 at Basham-Hopson Funeral Care (620 Oregon Street) from 4:00 – 8:00 p.m., with a Rosary recited at 6:00 p.m. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Monday, March 21st, 2016 at 11:00 a.m. at Our Lady of Perpetual Help Catholic Church (124 Columbus Street). A private interment will be held at Historic Union Cemetery on Tuesday, March 22nd.