BELL CITY, Mo. -- Jesse Michael Barnes, 62, of Bell City died Sunday, March 2, 2003, at his home.

He was born July 30, 1940, in Jackson, Tenn., son of Jesse and Inez Holloway Barnes. He and Vivian Lee were married Aug. 21, 1965.

Barnes was a teacher at Bell City Schools 14 years and principal at Bell City High School three years. He had worked the past 24 years at Missouri Division of Employment in Sikeston, Mo.

He was a member of Bell City United Methodist Church, Lakeview Lodge 489 AF&AM at Bell City, and Elks Lodge 2439 at Dexter, Mo.

Survivors include his wife; a son and daughter-in-law, Lee and Jennifer Barnes of Dexter; a daughter and son-in-law, Michelle and David Hampton of Sikeston; a brother, Bill Barnes of Jackson, Tenn.; three grandchildren, Logan and Landon Hampton of Sikeston, Lexie Barnes of Dexter; two nieces, Jennifer McMillion of Dexter, Heather O'Relly of Bell City; mother-in-law, Frances Lee of Bell City; other relatives and many friends survive to mourn his passing.

The funeral will be at 2 p.m. today at Chiles-Cooper Funeral Home in Bloomfield, Mo. The Rev. Linda Zych will officiate. Burial will be in Pleasant Grove Cemetery near Bell City.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Mike Barnes Memorial Scholarship Fund at Bell City Schools.