Obituary for Carol Hull Barnett Carol Hull Barnett, 77, passed away after a brief illness on Dec. 14 with family at her side. Even in her last days, Carol showed the same compassion for others, humor and grace which she was known for among her many friends and family members.
Born on July 2, 1941 in Boston, MA, Carol was born eight minutes after her twin sister, Robin Hull Volk, daughters of the late Dr. Jack D. Hull and Pat Cogan Hull. The twins were reared in Boston, MA, Champaign, IL, and Odgen, UT. They were beautiful, spirted girls who lived in a twin orbit and who were widely admired.
Carol and Robin graduated from Champaign Central High School in 1959. As teens, they spent their summers in Wyoming and in 1964 graduated with nursing degrees from the University of Wyoming. Carol returned to Champaign, IL, where she worked as nurse in public and behavioral health.
There she remained active in public health and community service. She was chair of the county and regional Planned Parenthood chapters and on the national board of directors of Planned Parenthood. She was president of the Mercy Hospital Foundation and served on the Parkland College Nursing advisory board.
She served on various mental health and heart associations and was active in Junior League and Hadassah. Carol, who loved all things Wyoming and western, returned to Wyoming in 1995, and immediately embraced the Cheyenne community. She was known for her can-do, cowgirl-up spirit–feeding, working for and taking care of many people.
She continued her nursing career, which spanned more than 40 years. She was past president of the Cowgirls of the West, past president of CASA of Laramie County, a member of Blue Stockings, a member of P.E.O Chapter C, a volunteer for Friday Food Bag and a volunteer cook for years with the Unity Missionary Baptist Church. In Wyoming, Carol found the cowboy of her heart, the late Bob Grant of Wheatland, WY.
The two traveled widely with Robin and her husband, John Volk. The twins also cherished their travels with the Texas Liberty Belles. Carol was a great fan of rodeos, travelling circuits from the high school rodeo to National Professional Rodeo to Pendleton, OR and Calgary, Canada.
Most recently, she checked off a bucket list item by touring the Hawaiian Islands for the first time with 20 of her family and friends. Carol had a lifelong practice of extending her family by embracing people into her life. She will be remembered for the breadth and depth of her many friendships.
Her motto and legacy was “the friends of my friends are friends”. She is survived by her loving son, Daniel Hull Barnett, M.D. Ph.D., of Champaign, IL; her sister, Robin Hull Volk, and brother-in-law John Volk of Cheyenne; brothers, Joe Hull (Kathy) of Prescott, AZ, and Rick Norlander (Donna Oliver) of Larkspur, CO; stepsons Michael Barnett (Victoria Shampaine) of Chevy Chase, MD, and Todd Barnett of Madison, WI; niece Wendy Volk (Todd Dereemer) of Cheyenne, WY, Rachel Hull of Seattle, WA, Sarah Hull Khan (Ekram) of Abu Dhabi, UAE, Dawn Hull of Los Angeles, CA Kim Hull of Fort Collins, CO; nephews, J. Fred Volk, Noah Hull (Ashley Smith), both of Cheyenne, Cordell Hull (Holly), of Alexandria, VA, Andrew Hull (Rachel) of Renton, WA, and Ethan Mcelroy of Twentynine Palms, CA. She is also survived by her heart-families Mike and Becky Grant and their daughters, Allie Eddington (Erik) and Rayne Grant, all of Wheatland and the Robert Libman family of Champaign, IL.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Dr. Jack D. Hull and Pat Cogan Hull; her brother, Jack Hull II, her partner and love Robert Grant of Wheatland, and her ex-husband, Dr. Sol Barnett. A celebration of Carol’s life will be held at a future date. Carol will be greatly missed for her heart, smile, and laughter.
In lieu of gifts, please do a kindness; feed someone you know or a stranger you might want to know. Talk to someone who needs a kind word; visit a friend you’ve been missing. Hug the people who matter to you; mend fences and find joy in the blessings life has given you.
Know that there is a legacy in good deeds. Carol lived that legacy. To send flowers to the family of Carol Hull Barnett, please visit our Heartfelt Sympathies Store.
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