George Nelson Barnette , of Johnson City, Texas, peacefully passed away Monday, October 4, 2021, at the age of 78, in his home on the Santa Vaca Ranch.

George was a native of Shreveport, Louisiana, born to Nelson and Linda Barnette on December 19, 1942. He lived in Shreveport with his parents and younger brother, Chris, throughout his childhood. After graduating from C.E. Byrd High School in Shreveport, he attended Northwestern State University in Natchitoches before moving to Houston, Texas, to attend the University of Houston, where he was a member of the Delta Chi fraternity. During the Vietnam War, George enlisted in the US Army and served his country honorably at Fort Polk, Louisiana, and Fort Knox, Kentucky. After being honorably discharged from the Army, George returned to Houston and resumed his studies at UH, while working for several local radio stations as a disc jockey and newsman.

In the summer of 1969, George met the love of his life, Sheila, on a blind date set up for him by a Delta Chi brother. George and Sheila married in August 1970, in Houston. By this time, George was working as a cameraman and occasional field reporter for KPRC-TV primarily covering the crime beat. George left Channel 2 to start the independent Houston News Service with his KPRC partner, Jack Cato.

In October 1975, George began his most important job when he became father to his son, Matthew. George loved spending time with Matthew and Sheila, taking them on family vacations around the US, Canada, and Mexico. Matthew fondly remembers how George took him all over the Houston area on weekends to show him the different neighborhoods and eat lunch at places he otherwise wouldn't have experienced.

After the news service, George worked for several local public relations firms in Houston before he and partner Guy Brown founded Brown Nelson Public Relations. George worked tirelessly with BNPR, eventually specializing in crisis management public relations for industrial companies around the world. He served as President of the Public Relations Society of America and remained active with the organization throughout the later years of his career.

After retirement, George and Sheila built their dream house on their beloved Santa Vaca Ranch in Blanco County, Texas. They became members of the First United Methodist Church – Johnson City and George quickly involved himself in any program he could. As he once said, he spent an entire career working for himself and it was time for him to spend the rest of his days helping others. It was in this spirit of service to others that he recognized the need for a children's' summer feeding program and food pantry at FUMCJC. George was enthusiastic about children's' literacy, so he established a book exchange for kids, as well as reading at the local pre-school. George was a natural with the kids, wearing an appropriate funny hat for the story being told and using goofy voices to hold their attention. George helped organize the annual Living Nativity at the church and spearheaded a potluck Thanksgiving feast every year for those who needed a place for a traditional meal when they didn't have anywhere else to go. That was George's natural talent – recognizing others' needs and never meeting a stranger.

George was also passionate about providing wheelchair ramps for those in need in the surrounding area through the Texas Ramp Project with a group of dedicated volunteers. He also organized or had a hand in clothing drives and relief missions for towns along both sides of the Texas-Mexico border. Among his interests and hobbies were theology, gardening, and genealogy; subjects that he could (and would) talk about at length to whomever would listen.

In December 2019, George went to see a doctor about what he thought was pneumonia and received a diagnosis of Stage IV renal cancer that metastasized in his lungs. This was not his first battle with cancer, having fought and defeated renal and prostate cancer over the years. Not about to allow cancer to stop his spirit of service, George continued serving the church and community while he went through treatment. When the physical requirements of serving others became too much for his weakening condition, George adapted and assumed organizational and support roles in the efforts that he loved to be involved.

George is preceded in death by his parents, Nelson and Linda Barnette, aunt, Caroline Williamson, and brother Chris. He is survived by his wife of 51 years, Sheila, of Johnson City, son Matthew Barnette, and daughter-in-law Kristi, of Cypress, Texas, sister-in-law Dorothy Barnette, of Baton Rouge, Louisiana, sister-in-law Jill Swanson, of San Jose, California, niece Sara Coker and her family, of Maryville, Tennessee, nephew Stephen Barnette, of Jacksonville, Florida, and nephew Eric Swanson, of San Jose California.

Through his FUMCJC family, he found brothers and sisters, sons and daughters, who were more to him than friends and acquaintances and were held in his life as treasures. The support and prayers of his church family did as much to lift him up and sustain him as did his medical team. George received the best care he could hope for from Sylvia Jaramillo, MD, at Texas Oncology, as well as the staff at St. David's North Austin Medical Center and Windcrest Nursing and Rehabilitation Center in Fredericksburg. George was a big fan of Dr. Jaramillo, but also the nurses, aides, and support staff who showed him such compassion in his care. Finally, Sheila and Matthew would like to recognize nurses Amber and Natalia from Altus Hospice, and caregiver Sofia Kalish for their absolute dedication and compassion in George's final days.

A celebration of George's life is scheduled for Saturday, October 16, 2021, at 11:00am at the First United Methodist Church – Johnson City, at 105 North LBJ Drive in Johnson City. A reception will follow in the FUMCJC Activity Center following the service.

In lieu of flowers and in George's undying spirit of service to others, the family asks that donations be made to the Texas Ramp Project (texasramps.org), First United Methodist Church – Johnson City, Misi ó n de Candelilla (mdcmexico.org), or to the charitable organization of the donor's choice.