Billie “Jean” Barnett, 77, of Hazleton, passed away Saturday, September 10, 2016 at her home.

She was born May 25, 1939 in Mt. Carmel, Illinois and had been a resident of Hazleton most of her lifetime.

She graduated in 1957 from Hazleton High School and then attended Oakland City College. She was a member of St. Francis Xavier Cathedral in Vincennes and had formerly attended the Hazleton United Methodist Church. “Jean” was an avid pet lover and gardener and held membership in the Young Democrat’s, Gibson County Democrat Women’s Club, Order of Eastern Star, Knights of Columbus and the Princeton Country Club where she enjoyed playing golf. She was first appointed a deputy assessor for Mildred Hitch and then served as the chief deputy assessor for Jack Sturgis and was appointed to fill out the remainder of his term of office, she then was elected Gibson County Assessor in 1982 and retired from that office in 2002.

She is survived by her husband, Ronald Barnett, to whom she was married on June 21, 1958 at the Hazleton United Methodist Church; 3 children, Elaine Marie Ferguson of Princeton, Ronald Charles “Chuck” Barnett (Shelley) of Valparaiso, IN and Dr. John Arthur Barnett (Laurie) of Somerville, IN; step-mother, Jean Thorne of Oneida, TN; 9 grandchildren, Jill Engler (Jared), Melanie Evans (Jason), Brandi Smith (Matt), Torrey Chavis, Talia Chavis, Tyler Barnett, MacKenzee Barnett, Madison Barnett and Ashlyn Barnett; 9 great grandchildren, Kaleb and Kendal Engler, Noah and Aubrey Evans, Allie and Ben Chavis, Camden Chavis, Phoenix Devine and Jericho Smith; 2 brothers, Roger “Bud” Thorne (Teresa) of Springdale, AL and Wade Thorne of Oneida, TN; a sister-in-law, Bernita Jones (Carson) of Ridge Manor, FL; also several cousins.

Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Wednesday CDT, September 14, 2016 at the Colvin Funeral Home in Princeton. Burial will follow at the Hazleton Community Cemetery. Visitation will be from 4 until 8 p.m. Tuesday CDT at the Colvin Funeral Home.