Obituary for Barney W. Green Barney W. Green, 80, of International Falls, MN, and West Palm Beach, FL, passed away on Saturday, March 31, 2018. A man of so much courage and love for his family, his will had held him strong for the last twenty years. Barney was born on May 15, 1937 in Big Sandy, TX, to parents Clarence Leslie and Mildred Jeanette (Fuller) Green.
He grew up in Van Nuys, CA. A people person, he always had that special twinkle in his eye. He liked to stay active, for instance at twelve years of age he worked as a newspaper boy.
With written permission from his mother, at seventeen he married Maureen Ruth McCourry and worked three jobs to support her. They had two children and raised them in the San Fernando Valley where he owned and operated his own landscaping business. He later moved to El Dorado in the Sierra Mountains of Northern California where he built the Green Diamond Ranch with his daughter Kelly and her husband Mike.
In December 1992 Barney married Francie Nemec and they kept busy on the ranch raising cattle and Emu. In 2000 he received a kidney transplant from an anonymous donor and not a day went by that he wasn’t grateful. Eventually they sold the ranch and moved to International Falls to be with family, discovered winter, and learned to enjoy the warmth of Florida.
“Grampa and Francie traveled lots and made many great friends and always made people feel very special. There was never a bad day if you were with Grampa, he loved everyone! ” As quoted by granddaughter Patricia.
Barney was a landscaper, a jack-of-all-trades, an artistic man who was good with his hands. He had an amazing curiosity and was always learning. He was a skilled golfer, he enjoyed drag racing, tinkering in the stock market, traveling, and being with family and friends.
Children loved him and the world was just a better place with him in it. He was preceded in death by his parents; wife, Maureen; brother, Leo; and grandson, Joshua. Barney is survived by his sister, Lona Ruth Johnson; wife, Francie; daughters, Kelly (Mike) Spears, Cory (Mike) Ragan; step-daughter, Heather Lee Heard; five grandchildren, William (Darcy) Randal, Patricia Spears (Jeff Molskness), Realynn Ragan, Glenn Spears, Rachael Ragan; five great-grandchildren, Wyatt Randal, Tristin Schnall, Austin Randal, Jaydin Ragan, Madisyn Randal; as well as many in-laws and out-laws, nieces and nephews.
A Celebration of Barney’s Life will be held at the Ranier Community Building on Thursday, April 19, 2018 at 5:30 p.m. with a light supper following. Please wear something cheerful. If Barney could make a request he would suggest planting a tree or being an organ donor in lieu of memorial donations.
To send flowers or a memorial gift to the family of Barney W. Green please visit our Sympathy Store. Upcoming Events Celebration of Life 2018 APR 19. 05:30 PM Ranier Community Building 2099 Spruce St Ranier, MN, US, 56668 Order Flowers for the Celebration of Life Guaranteed delivery before Barney’s Celebration of Life begins.
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