James L. Barnett

James L. Barnett, 74, of Sun City Hilton Head, passed away January 21, 2014, after battling cancer for four years. Jim was born in Oakland, CA. He joined the U.S. Coast Guard in Long Beach, CA, serving from 1957 to 1960. His professional career began in 1960 at International Business Machines Corporation (IBM) in southern CA. He later worked for IBM in NJ, NY, PA and CT, serving several assignments in the Latin American countries, Japan and Korea. While residing in Bethel, CT, he met Laurie A. Sutherland who also worked at IBM. They wed in 1992 in Hamilton Parish, Bermuda. They both retired from IBM and moved to Lexington, KY where Jim worked part time for Lexmark. While living in Lexington, he quickly became an avid University of Kentucky sports fan. He also enjoyed working at the beautiful Keeneland thoroughbred racetrack in the Admissions Department along with several fellow retirees. In addition to his wife, Laurie, Jim is survived by his children of former marriage James A. Barnett of LA Habra, CA; Tracey Bristol of Bullhead City, AZ; Christine Levicki of Avon Lake, OH; and step-children Bradley Loving of Doylestown, PA and Sherry Oeltjen-Bruns of Quakertown, PA. He is survived by eleven grandchildren and two great-grandchildren. A memorial service will be held at 4:00 p.m. at Sauls Funeral Home of Bluffton, 90 Simmonsville Road, Bluffton, SC 29910 on Jim's birthday, February 5, 2014. Those wishing to make donations in memory of Jim can be made to the exceptional non-profit organization, Hospice Care of the Lowcountry. Hospice Care of the Lowcountry provided superior care, love and support to Jim and Laurie, providing Jim the comfort to pass away peacefully at home. The mailing address is Hospice Care of the Lowcountry, Post Office Box 3827, Bluffton, SC 29910. A memorial service will be held at 4:00 p.m. at Sauls Funeral Home of Bluffton, 90 Simmonsville Road, Bluffton, SC 29910 on Jimâ