The Fresno County Athletic Hall of Fame was founded in 1958 by John Voenes, the original chairman of the Fresno County Athletic Hall of Fame Committee, and Ed Orman, Sports Editor for the Fresno Bee.

Our mission, from our inception, as it remains today, is to honor and remember the past accomplishments of our Fresno County athletes, to annually celebrate the enshrinement of our new inductees and to provide inspiration to our youth so they too can become all they can be in their lives.

Mr. Donald (Don) Ray Barnett, age 92, of Citrus Heights, California, died peacefully at home on May 4, 2023, surrounded by his loving family. Don entered life on February 23, 1931, in Louisa, Kentucky. He was raised in Fresno, California and attended Washington Union High School and Fresno State College. Don was united in marriage to Anna Mae Snitzer on June 23, 1956, in Youngstown, Ohio and they remained devotedly married for sixty-seven years until his death. This happy union was blessed with two sons and one daughter. Don was a loving brother, uncle, husband, father, grandfather and great grandfather. Don will be missed tremendously by his loving wife Anna Mae Barnett of Citrus Heights, California, sons Bradley and his late wife Deanne Barnett of Fair Oaks, California, Donald and his husband Trevor Perry of Concord, California, daughter Lisa and her husband Robert Burkhalter of Lincoln, California, his grandchildren Maryann, Emily, Megan, Michael, and Matthew, his great grandchildren Ebby, Quinn, Ryan, Boen, Brynley, Zoe, and Easton, his sister Betty Thomas of Mile High Park, California, his brother Scott Barnette of Fresno, California, numerous nieces, nephews and other relatives. He was preceded in death by his parents Willis and Elva Barnette, his sisters Billy Mae Barnette, and Roberta Jean Briggs, brothers Dana Barnette and Buck Barnette and his daughter-in-law Deanne Barnett.

Don was a remarkable man and gifted athlete, coach, fisherman and hunter. He was inducted into the Fresno County Athletic Hall of Fame in 1968 for his accomplishments as Fresno State’s First Team All-American pitcher for the Fresno State Baseball Team. Don was such a talented pitcher that he was drafted by the Boston Red Sox in 1951 before a shoulder injury and military service ended his promising career. While in Boston, Don fondly recalled meeting Boston’s legendary Ted Williams and having a long talk about hunting, fishing and baseball.

Don’s greatest achievement and his biggest joy in life was his role as the family patriarch. There was nothing Don would not do to help or provide for his large extended family of children, grandchildren, great grandchildren, their spouses, and friends of the family. His family is heartbroken by his passing, and he will be missed beyond words.

Funeral Services will be conducted on Friday, May 19, 2023, at 10 a.m. at the Calvary Cemetery & Funeral Center, 7101 Verner Avenue in Citrus Heights, California. A Reception will be held at the Calvary Cemetery Reception Room following the service.