J. Claudius Barnes

J. Claudius Barnes

J. Claudius Barnes, 69 of Mountain Home, passed away on Sunday, Jan. 29, 2012, at his home. A celebration of Claudius's life will be held on Sunday, Feb. 5, 2012, at 2:30 p.m. at the Seventh Day Adventist, 2425 American Legion Boulevard in Mountain Home. Cremation was under the direction of Rost Funeral Home, McMurtrey Chapel.

Claudius Barnes was raised in the cotton mill town of Tifton, Ga., where at the age of 18 he joined the United States Air Force to serve 20 proud and decorated years of faithful service to our nation

The many years of office work left Claudius with an unquenchable yearning for the American West. So when the Air Force brought Claudius to Mountain Home Air Force Base, he immediately fell in love with the

state's incontestable beauty. No force of man, nature or government could or would remove him from Idaho.

After his first retirement, Wilson & Dodge of Mountain Home provided Claudius with plenty of outside work as well as the skill set that would take point for his next career.

Claudius then gave 20 years of dedicated service to the Idaho Transportation Department in service to the state's highways. Where, as foreman of the District 3 Idaho Department of Transportation, Claudius shared his love for our

state by keeping our roads both beautiful and safe. His unwavering commitment to beauty, safety and detail can still be seen on Highway 20 up to Cat Creek Summit. His quirky sense of humor can still tear the eyes of anyone who recalls his tumbleweed presentation.

Claudius' family wish to express their deepest gratitude to all who have touched his life. In lieu of flowers, memorials can be made to the Desert View Christian School, P.O. Box 124, Mountain Home, ID, 83647, or to a favorite charity.