Donita Barnes... I have known, admired, and loved her for over 30 years. The first time I met her was at a Barnes rodeo and I was a "newbie" and scared to death when I went to the office to pay my fees. I guess she could see this and she reached out and took my hand as I was counting out some cash and squeezed it and smiled at me. From that moment I knew that Donita was a wonderful person with compassion and understanding for anyone she met. She was such an asset to her family's rodeo business.... she was the glue... the hub that kept it all running. I never ever heard her complain no matter what was happening. She would just take anything that was thrown at her in stride and do whatever she could to "make it right". She mentored many rodeo secretaries and timers and also helped a lot of judges keep all the technical aspects of a rodeo office straight. Donita did all this while keeping her family number two in her life (God was number one with Donita). She held her family so very close and loved each and every one so very much. And yes, she even managed to keep Bob in line.... she was truly an angel on earth. While I was looking at some photos and mementos at the funeral I noticed a poem that Bob had written to her on their anniversary in 1998. As I read it I couldn't help but tear up... it was a tribute to Donita from the beginning of their life together. Bob is quite the poet and I have read a lot of his work but this poem was so touching.... so from the heart. His appreciation and love of her through all the tough times in the beginning to the joys of each of their children's births to all she did for everyone and for all she meant to everyone was so deep. Their love for each other was so very deep and strong and never wavered throughout their life together.

Donita's funeral was a celebration of her life and was highlighted by many stories of how she touched so many peoples lives. There were people there from all over the country and from the variety of those attending you could see that Donita was a deeply loved by a huge cross section of lifestyles. Rodeo committees from across the country were represented.... even from the new rodeo in Atlantic City. Just proving that Donita always made a great impression on everyone she met. One thing that really emphasized Donita's way of living was a statement that the minister made about when the doctors told her that her cancer was not gone but was actually worse. He was with her and Bob at the time and said that she was silent for a moment and then just stated that, "I'm disappointed. Do I have a right to be disappointed?" The minister said that he told her, "Yes, you have that right." She then said, "Well, the doctors don't have the right to tell me that." That was Donita, strong to the end. Not complaining, just taking the news and deciding to do what she could to "make it right".

Donita Barnes will be missed by all of us that knew her and her memory will always be a fond one. She was truly a compassionate and understanding woman who always cared for everyone except herself. Donita was a "caretaker" that loved life.