William Franklin Barnett, 80 years of age born April 3, 1942, in Carney, OK, was the third child of eight children born to Goldie Irene Barnett and Ernie Barnett Sr. His mother, father and three siblings proceeded him in death. He grew up in Dudley and then Luther, OK, going to school at Washington High School and graduating from Luther High School before entering the Army to serve his country in 1963. After a tour in Vietnam, he was honorably discharged in 1966. He spent time in Colorado Springs before returning to Oklahoma.

William worked in construction and one of the projects he was most proud of was Enterprise Square in Edmond, OK. November 2003, he married Shirley Watkins and although he had no children of his own, he loved his stepson and stepdaughter, and they in turn loved him.

William became a member of Mt. Pleasant Baptist Church where he remained until his health failed him. He loved driving around the countryside viewing nature, people watching, telling stories, and visiting friends. He enjoyed hunting, fishing, and gardening in his younger days.

He will always be in the hearts of those surviving him, his wife, of twenty years Shirley, his step daughter Cheryl Watkins of Charlotte, NC; his stepson, Jason (Rita) Watkins; granddaughter, Jasmon Watkins all of Fort Smith, AR; his sister, Wanda (Edward) Threatt; brothers, Herman (Leatha) Barnett, Therman (Diane) Barnett, and Ermie Barnett Jr. all of Luther, OK; nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends.