Mickey Lee Barton

Mickey Lee Barton was born on April 23, 1955 in Orlando Florida and raised in the Savannah Georgia area. His parents are Jennie Lee Hiott and William Warner Barton. His siblings are David Daniel Barton, Terry Ann Sutherland, William Warner Barton, Jr. Ronald Ray Barton and Jesse Hubert Barton.

Mickey was raised in the Savannah Georgia area, graduating from Groves High School in Garden City. He learned carpentry and worked with his father and uncles before going into the AirForce, where he was introduced to what would eventually become his new career in computers. He graduated with a Master’s degree in computer science from the University of Southern Mississippi, and moved to Allen, Texas in 1996.

Mickey met his eternal companion at a church singles conference, and after a month of long-distance phone calls, he and his three children, Christie Marie Lane (Barton), Mickey Lee Barton Jr., and William Cecil Barton, moved to be near Joan and her five children, Keri Lynn Osborne (Wade), Christopher Alan Wade, Jeffrey Niel Wade, Brian Dexter Wade, and Melonie Elise Florcik (Wade/Barton). The Lord has greatly blessed this “group – that somehow formed a family- that’s the way they all became the Barton Bunch”. They have 24 grandchildren and 3 great grandchildren that they love dearly.

Mickey loved sports, whether it was coaching, playing, or watching it on TV. He confessed to playing “tackle basketball”. His favorite teams included the USM Golden Eagles, BYU Cougars, Atlanta Braves and the Atlanta Falcons. He could talk stats in his sleep. He enjoyed hiking and long bike rides, participating in many organized rides with family and friends, where he adopted one of his favorite phrases “I can do hard things”.

Loved by all who knew him, he strove to emulate the love of our Savior in word and deed. He was active in scouting, serving at the local and district levels. He was always willing to help everyone he met, whether a stranger or beloved friend. He worked on and led community work projects such as Change the World. Moving parties and disaster clean ups always found him there. He taught and led both youth and adults, and served in the Temple, a place where he felt close to the Lord. He and his wife Joan served a two-and-a-half-year church mission together, a dream and goal they had for their retirement phase of life.

He passed to his eternal reward on April 20, after a long and challenging experience with prostate cancer, surrounded by his family. He shared Matthew 24:35-40, and Mosiah 2:17 with all the doctors and nurses who would pause long enough to listen, thanking them for their service to him and letting them know they were serving the Lord.