Late last week longtime GOP activist Jane Barnett passed away after a long battle with cancer. On the day of her passing I penned a brief memorial column. I reached out to two of Jane’s closest friends, Linda and Doug Boyd, and asked them if they would share some thoughts on Jane’s passing, which they did. Below is some information on Jane’s funeral services, followed by the article from Doug and Linda.
_______________________________
You are invited to come and celebrate with us the life and love that Jane Barnett has shared with us all tomorrow, Tuesday, August 13th…
9:30am Viewing to be held at Holy Family Church
209 E. Lomita Ave, Glendale, CA 91205
10am Mass to be held at Holy Family Church
Mass to be preformed by Rev. James M Bevacqua
12pm Gravesite Service to follow at Mission Hills Catholic Mortuary
11160 Strandwood Ave, Mission Hills, CA 91345
Open House to immediately follow at the approximate time of 1:15pm at the Barnett residence
304 N. Glenwood Pl, Burbank, CA 91506
_______________________________
The Boyds: Longtime Friends of Jane Barnett
JANE BARNETT GOES HOME
By Doug & Linda Boyd
The earthly mission of legendary Republican conservative leader Jane Barnett ended yesterday morning as she went home to be with her Lord after a long fight with cancer. Her husband Lou quickly responded to our message of condolence with “As sad as it is for us, Jane has never been happier than she is now. In the blink of an eye, we’ll all be together again.”
Jane and Lou enjoyed 43 years of marriage, and even longer in the fight for conservative values, with that same unshakable faith in God and Country and each other. They were an indivisible team, and their world revolved around their marriage and the seven children they raised in a loving environment filled with hope and expectation for a better future, now and in eternity.
Jane’s political story began as an idealistic northern California college student who formed and became President of the Holy Names College Republicans during the presidential election of 1968. Her style and flair quickly caught the attention of southern California College Republican leader Lou Barnett, who decided to mentor her. That developed into marriage in June of 1970 and the seven children followed.
The Barnett’s settled in Burbank where Jane’s gregarious friendliness and natural organizational skills led her to become President of the San Fernando Valley Young Republicans from 1972-74. Devoted fans of Ronald Reagan, Lou and Jane worked hard in his 1976 California presidential primary election victory. A grateful Reagan named Jane as one of his Delegates to the 1976 Republican National Convention.
Jane was active in the California Republican party since the 1970’s, and in the late 1980’s served three years on CRP staff as Membership director and Special Events Coordinator. She then worked for former Assembly Republican Leader Pat Nolan in 1989-90 and the Los Angeles World Affairs Council in 1990-91.
In 1992, Jane helped manage the Bush Presidential campaign in California and then was picked by Governor Wilson as President of the Acupuncture Committee of the Medical Board of California, where she oversaw the staff and directed operations until 1996.
From 1994 to 1996 she also was Capitol Director for the office of Assemblyman James Rogan. Rogan served as Majority Leader in 1995-96, the last time Republicans were in the majority, and Jane was among the staff leadership in Sacramento for the good guys.
Her great political knowledge and ability to motivate staff and volunteers alike caught the attention of then State Senator Tim Leslie. Jane managed his statewide campaign for Lt. Governor in 1998, earning applause for her talents in fundraising and creating visibility for an obscure office.
Jane and Lou moved to Washington D.C. in 2000 where Jane was eagerly snapped up by Morton Blackwell’s Leadership Institute as Director of Donor Relations. In 2003, she was recruited by Lt. Colonel Oliver North to accept the same position at his Freedom Alliance. Jane maintained and developed relations with their over 5,000 high dollar donors nationwide, solicited corporate and individual donations, and handled all major fundraising events nationwide through 2006.
Jane returned to Burbank, California and her volunteer roots in 2007. She promptly revitalized the 43rd Assembly District Republican Central Committee and, when she couldn’t find a good candidate to run for the Assembly seat in 2008, decided to run herself. True to form, Jane made the most of an under funded, volunteer campaign and ended up doing better than anyone but her expected her to do.
In 2009, she was asked to accept the Chairmanship of the troubled and organizationally adrift Republican Party of Los Angeles County (RPLAC). Once again, Jane put principle and party first and agreed to take on the difficult and thankless position while battling cancer. She did an outstanding job and was overwhelmingly reelected in January 2011 to another term. By November of that year her health required her full attention and she resigned to the regret of the Committee and Republican leaders all over California who appreciated having strong, competent leadership in a county with over 25% of the state’s population.
Jane Barnett continued to be active in the causes she loved, even attending RPLAC meetings until very recently this year, going out of her way to help in her final days. In addition to her political work, she was a life long leader of the California Pro-Life Council and led numerous Catholic educational charities.
Jane’s faith guided her life. She lovingly put her heart and soul into her family and into making this world a better place for them and for us all.
We admire Jane and Lou Barnett greatly as parents and mentors and are honored to have them as friends. While we will miss Jane very much, like Lou, we look forward to being reunited with her eventually in Heaven where she will doubtless be helping the Lord organize the angels.
________________
Doug and Linda Boyd are both longtime conservative and Republican activists who have both held numerous, significant leadership posts within the California Republican Party, Los Angeles County GOP, Republican volunteer organizations, and more.