Floyd Barnett


Floyd Barnett, 91, of Belleville, IL, born Tuesday, December 23, 1919, in East St. Louis, IL, died Wednesday, March 23, 2011 at his residence.

Mr. Barnett was the founder of Automation Service. He attended Faith Family Church and was a WWII Army Air Corps Veteran. He was past president of St. Louis Instrument Society of America, member of 3D Society of St. Louis,

He was preceded in death by his:

  • First wife: Norma Barnett, who passed away in 1975
  • Parents: David F. and Pauline nee Heinlein Barnett
  • Brother: Nathan Barnett

Surviving are his:

  • Wife: Yvonne M. nee Brown Barnett
  • Children
    • Barbara (Jerry) Bourland of Troy, IL
    • David (Julie) Barnett of Simi Valley, CA
    • Craig Barnett of St. Louis, MO
    • Kim Douglas of Belleville, IL
    • Rod Barnett of Phoenix, AZ
  • Grandchildren
    • Bradley (Tami) Bourland
    • Bruce (Jody) Bourland
    • Andrew Douglas
    • Alex Douglas
    • Caitlin Barnett
    • Christopher Barnett
    • Calista Barnett
  • Great Grandchildren
    • Joseph Bourland
    • Bradley Bourland II
    • Brett Bourland
    • Brock Bourland
  • Dear Niece & Nephew
  • Great Nieces & Nephew
  • Great Great Nieces & Nephews
  • Great Great Great Niece
  • Sister-in-law: Nina Kloos of Tucson, AZ
  • Family & Friends at Automation Service.

Memorials: Memorials may be made to Hospice of Southern Illinois, Faith Family Church or Alzheimers Assoc..

Visitation: Friends may call from 2-8 P.M., Sunday, March 27 at Kurrus Funeral Home, Belleville, Illinois and from 10-11 A.M., Monday, March 28 at Faith Family Church, Shiloh, Illinois.

Funeral: Funeral services will be held at 11 A.M. Monday, March 28, 2011 at Faith Family Church, with Pastor John Temple officiating. Interment will follow at Lake View Memorial Gardens, Fairview Heights, Illinois.

Condolences left for Floyd Barnett:

    Our thoughts and prayers are with the entire Barnett family as we all mourn the loss of our founder, friend, mentor and inspiration. Floyd and his Pride and Joy will be greatly missed.

    Your 'Family of Friend' at Automation Service

    Donna Denman Earth City MO 63045

    So sad to hear of Mr. B’s passing. I've known him and his children since 1970. He's responsible for four big parts of my life:
    Introducing me to the health-foods movement and freedom-of-choice (in health-care) politics, organizations working for a better monetary system, networking with 3-D photo enthusiasts, and setting up a date for my dad with a lady who my dad married a few years later!

    I admire him on so many levels:

    -- as a successful businessman/entrepreneur who took a big chance with a small business and persevered to see it grow to a leading player in the re-manufactured-instrumentation industry. He had the highest level of integrity not only in his personal life but that of the refurbished products that his Automation Service sold;

    -- as a patriotic crusader who worked over decades to help cure society's health-care ills and economic ills by returning us to holistic cures and alternative (non-debt based) monetary systems. Back in the early 1970s Mr. Barnett and Merrill Jenkins helped establish the national Monetary Realist Society.
    Barnett was also ahead of his time as an early champion of the health foods- and holistic health-care movement that are only recently in vogue. Though I called him “Mr. B” I sometimes quipped “Mr. C” from his advocacy of dietary supplements, particularly vitamin c.
    He always carried with him in his wallet and pockets various small knickknacks that he’d cleverly use in an impromptu magic trick whenever he’d encounter a friend, friendly stranger, or any kid. His vast collection of family and worldwide scenic stereo photos (and a few 3-D home movies) stretch back to the 1950s; a few years ago, commenting on the new Hollywood blockbusters and 3-D HD TVs, Mr. B. told me that his six-decade hobby is finally hip!

    Mr. Barnett was a great friend and mentor and I'm honored -- and grateful -- to have known him. He was a consummate professional in business and affable and friendly in person. But he was a rationalist in his approach to myriad topics – astutely questioning the underlying premise of a hypothesis or principle. Even into his later years he didn’t lose his fervor for helping alter public policy so that we the people would live a healthier physical and financial life.
    I hope now in HIS afterlife, after hobnobbing with his departed relatives, Floyd Barnett becomes the official heavenly magician -- and frequently discusses monetary theories with the Founding Fathers and past great economists.


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