Ricky Barnett

The family of Ricky Barnett have created this profile in Ricky's honor.


Ricky worked for Legget and Platt for years in Simpsonville. He met his best friend and soul mate Cathy Miller there and married her on November 19th, 1983. They had their first child Katie in December 1986 and Eric in August 1988. He later left Leggett Platt due to life changing leg problems. He was in and out of the hospital for 20 years with blood clotts and infections in his right leg. Things were finally starting to look good for Ricky in 2007. With less leg problems he continued his dream of farming and building up his registered simmental cattle business. Ricky in the fall of 2007 went to the doctor because of a sore on his toungue. In November of 2007 he was later diagnosed with a toungue cancer. On December 18th 2007 he had surgery to remove 1/4 of his toungue and 54 infected limphnotes (spelling??) removed. But cancer free... He went through about 45 radiation and chemo treatments throughout the winter and in February 2008 the same cancer returned. This was treated again with treatments. In June of 2007 the family went with Ricky to the James Brown Cancer Institute where he was told he was cancer free once more! Oh happy day! Things were not better but he felt as if he might have beat it for good. The second week of July 2008 Ricky returned to the University Hospital of Louisville and was told the cancer had returned and that it was aggresively growing and that it was too late for other options. This time the cancer was named Squamous Cell Carcinoma. They explained small treatment options and kept a closer eye on him. Another two weeks went by and he began to swell so bad that he was rushed to the hospital again at the end of the month. This time they told us that he had months to live and that they would try the most aggressive chemos there was and any studies they ran across. Ricky stayed in the hospital one week and came home off of the strongest chemo and would return in three weeks for another round. In return, he came home and on August 9th, 2008 at about 7 pm he began to encounter serious breathing problems. He had a big day that day out in his garage and worked along side his friends and family on his project car a 1970 SS Nova that he had painted two days prior. At about 9 pm he was rushed to University Hospital of Louisville again and later returned to his heavenly father on August 10th, 2008 at 3 am in the morning. He was soo stong to the end and wanted to live more than anyone else we have ever met. Ricky was such a dedicated man and hard working despite all the obsticles he was given. His 30 year reunion and his and Cathy's 25th wedding anniversary in November were among two of the things he was waiting to celebrate. Ricky's life was full of trials and tribulations but he lived life to the fullest.

Ricky was a farmer, a son, a husband, a GREAT father, a friend to many, and the best friend everyone wanted.

Ricky was a DIEHARD fan of Dale Earnhardt Sr and Dale Earnhardt Jr. He loved Sunday afternoon races.He loved Sunday mornings too because at church him and Mark Armstrong would have little chats about how the race would be ran that Sunday. Each supporting their drivers. haha.. He was a International Harvester Man, he loved his RED TRACTORS!!! Ricky and his father Sidney ran a farm together known as BARNETT FARMS of Taylorsville, KY and worked side by side every day to keep the farm in business along with Eric and Ken, Rickys son and close friend. Whether it be their custom hay baling, their acres and acres of tobacco, the simmental cattle, or keeping the tractors serviced and on the road. In March of 2008, Ricky and Cathy expanded their tobacco and cattle business to a new farm in Elk Creek, KY. Ricky enjoyed pulling tractors in the Salt River Antique Tractor club, stopping by Waynes Farm Equipment and Stevens and Sons talking to friends during his extra time, and he was a ordained deacon at Little Mount Baptist Church. Ricky was a active member of the Spencer County Fairboard, a volunteer to the Spencer County FFA and Spencer County 4-H. Supporting his children all through their years of school and afterwards.