09/16/2007 FRANCIS H. BARNES SOUTH HERO — Francis H. "Frank" Barnes, 63 years young, went to be with his Lord and Savior on Friday, Sept. 14, 2007. He joined Him peacefully surrounded by his loving family after a long courageous battle with cancer. He was born in Charlotte, the son of James Barnes and Mary Catherine Collier Barnes Peterson. Frank was raised on the family farm in Charlotte. During that time he helped build The Old Lantern. He was a native Vermonter and enjoyed life in many communities from Huntington to Swanton, making life-long friends along the way. As a young man he played Baseball in Huntington for the Huntington Hillbillies and Green Mountain Insulation. In 1964 Frank married Sally Mercey. She predeceased him on Aug. 5, 2000. He was an electrical engineer and worked for the NASA Space Program in the late 1960's. Frank worked for IBM as an employee and later as a subcontractor for DNS Screen. Frank served his country in the U.S. Air Guard, and was life member and Officer of the American Legion Post 91, of Colchester were he had many friends. Frank had many interests and hobbies which included hunting, fishing, woodworking and playing pool. He enjoyed golf later in life and played up until this past August. Frank had many talents and was always helping his family and friends with various projects big and small. He is survived by his wife, Pat Middlebrook of South Hero and her daughter Danielle and husband Lars Murdock of Winooski; Frank's four daughters, Lisa Mitchell and husband Bill of Starksboro, Wendy and husband Mike Blanchette of Colchester, Kristy Hetzel and her husband Gunther of Richmond, Stacy Andrews and husband Rick of Richmond; 15 grandchildren, Justin, Ethan, Breeanna, Kylee, Tristyn, Cory, Avery, Trevor, Bailee, Elizabeth, Sumner, Sully, Sophie, Annika and Stella; and one great-granddaughter, Zoey; his two sisters, Geraldine Roberge of Essex and Martha Wyatt of Ardon, N.C. He was predeceased by his two sisters, Joyce Laughlin and Mary Burns; and brother Richard Barnes. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Monday, Sept. 17 at 3 p.m. in St. Lawrence Catholic Church, 158 West St., Essex Junction. Visiting hours will be today from 4 to 6 p.m. at the Corbin and Palmer Funeral Home, 9 Pleasant St., Essex Junction. In lieu of flowers, donations in Frank's memory can be made to The South Hero Rescue, Route 2, South Hero, VT 05486, or the VNA Hospice, 1110 Prim Road, Suite 1, Colchester, VT 05446. The family of Frank would like to express special thanks to the Double Tree Hotel for allowing Pat the flexibility to care for Frank at home during the past few months. Also, many thanks to Dr. Sanders, Janet, and Heidi for the wonderful care he received at VCCM and his VNA/Hospice Nurses Mary Roberta and Jeanette.