Howard Lee Barnes, 79, of Mexico, died at 1:05 p.m. Friday, April 16, 2004, at Twain Haven Nursing Home in Perry. Funeral services will be held on Monday, April 19, at 1 p.m. at Pickering Funeral Home with the Rev. Randall A. Sawyer officiating. Visitation will be Sunday evening from 5 until 7 p.m. at the funeral home. Burial will be in East Lawn Memorial Park. Mr. Barnes was born on August 2, 1924, in Sturgeon a son of Barney and Maycle Barnes. On Feb. 15, 1948, in Centralia, he married Barbara J. Brown, who died on June 19, 1994. He worked for A. P. Green Refractories as a forklift operator for 28 years before retiring. He also built houses and worked for Missouri Power and Light Co. Survivors include six sons, Ronnie Barnes, Madison, Lonnie Barnes, Jonesburg, Eric, Randy and Linn Barnes, Mexico, and Gaylan Barnes, Wentzville; a daughter, Mrs. Don (Carolyn) Mozingo, Mexico; two sisters, Betty Jean Schade, Centralia, and Rose Bell Hulen, Columbia;16 grandchildren and 4 great grandchildren. A brother, Kenneth Barnes, and a sister, Lucile Hamm, preceded him in death.