Hayward Roland Barnett, 84, died February 6, 2011 at Cox South in Springfield, Missouri. He resided at the Baptist Home in Ozark, Missouri since 2002. The son of Haward and Mary Ester (Mackey) Barnett, Hayward was born March 9, 1926 in Bolivar, Polk County, Missouri.
He grew up in Bolivar and attended North and Southward elementary schools, spending much of his early years in the care of his maternal grandmother, Nancy Elizabeth (Erwin) Mackey, especially during the winter months while his mother was away from home engaged in teaching. Following the completion of eighth grade Hayward joined his mother who was then teaching in Louisburg in Dallas County, for three years of high school. They came to Springfield in 1942 where Hayward graduated from Springfield Senior High School. He was no stranger to Springfield as over the years he made frequent visits to his paternal grandparents, Victor and Della Barnett, who were custodian and matron respectively at the YMCA. He was a 1949 graduate of Southwest Missouri State College with a Bachelor of Science Degree. While in college, he was active in the Baptist Student Union (BSU), College Theater, Band and Science Club. He was also a member of Phi Beta Chi an Honorary Science Fraternity and Alpha Psi Omega an Honorary Speech and Theater Fraternity. His college studies were interrupted in 1946 at the close of WW II for military service and occupation duty with the 8th Army. He was assigned to Army Headquarters in Yokohoma, Japan. He also earned a Master of Education degree from the University of Missouri.
It was during a year of graduate studies at the University of Missouri in Columbia in 1950 that Hayward was drawn toward a religious vocation which led to a Master of Divinity degree in 1955 from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Ft. Worth, Texas. Following seminary, he held a brief pastorate at Galloway Baptist Church. This was followed by almost ten years as Baptist Student Union Director at the Baptist Student Center in Springfield. He came from a strong Baptist background beginning with his great-great grandfather, Nathaniel Barnett who came to Howell County, Missouri from Meigs County, Tennessee in 1850 serving Howell County Baptist churches for many years, and being instrumental in the organization of the Howell County Union Baptist Association. His great uncle, Obed Nathaniel “O.N.” Barnett was also a long-time Howell County Baptist Minister.
A career change came in 1965 when Hayward entered the teaching profession as a Junior High School Science Teacher in the Republic and later the Springfield Public Schools where he taught at Pipkin and Cherokee Junior High Schools. His teaching career spanned twenty four years. He was a member of the Springfield Education Association, Missouri State Teachers Association, the National Science Teachers Association and Phi Kappa Delta Education Fraternity. During summer school recesses he worked for the National Park Service (NPS) as a Seasonal Interpretive Ranger at Ozark National Scenic Riverways, Dinosaur National Monument in Utah and Wilson’s Creek National Battlefield. He was twice recognized with the NPS Special Achievement Award. Work with the NPS continued during his retirement years. In 1994, he was selected as one of the recipients of the Outstanding Missouri Senior Employees Award.
For several years Hayward was an active member of the local Audubon Society and appeared on stage in numerous Springfield Little Theater (SLT) productions as well as back-stage duties. He served on the SLT Board of Directors and was serving on the Board when the Landers Theater was purchased. His contributions to Springfield Little Theater were recognized in 1966 with the Jane Simpson Award presented by the Springfield Little Theater Associates. He was a life member of the Ozarks Genealogical Society, Wilson’s Creek National Battlefield Foundation and the Greene County Historical Society, the latter of which he served as President for nine years and later as Executive Secretary. He also volunteered at the History Museum for Springfield-Greene County and the Greene County Archives and served on the Founders Park Steering and Research Committees. He served the City of Springfield as a member of the Springfield Historic Sites Board and the Historic District Review Board. These two later combined to become the Springfield Landmarks Board. His interest in local history resulted in numerous articles in Springfield Magazine. His writing avocation was enhanced by membership in both the Missouri and Springfield Writer’s Guild.
He was a member of Springfield First Baptist Church where he had held membership since coming to Springfield in 1942 except for brief periods while engaged in ministry elsewhere, such as Youth Minister at University Heights Baptist Church. He also served the Greene County Baptist as Associational Youth Department Director and served on the Missouri Baptist Convention’s Historical Commission.
Hayward is survived by three cousins, LeRoy Mackey and wife Carol, Rockport, TX, Patsy Ray, Corpus Christi, TX and Dorothy Shapard Kramer, Neusman, Green Valley, AZ. He was preceded in death by his parents, paternal and maternal grandparents and two cousins, Wallace Ray Barnett and Nancy Sue Webber.
No services are planned. Cremation arrangements are under the direction of Greenlawn Funeral Home South. Hayward was interred at the Greenwood Cemetery, Bolivar, Missouri.