Willie “Eddie” Barnett

Willie Edward "Eddie" Barnett, 76, of Oldtown, Kentucky, passed away, Saturday, January 17, 2026, at Community Hospice Care Center in Ashland, Kentucky. Eddie was born August 17, 1949, in Ashland, Kentucky, a son of the late Willie Ellis and Geraldine Caudill Barnett.

Eddie was a self-employed auto repairman who dearly loved his blue heeler dog, "Buddy." Eddie had a lifelong love for horses and was especially passionate about barrel racing and pole bending. He proudly showed Quarter Horses and was best known for his beloved horse, "Buckey", who many considered to be one of the finest horses in the tri-state area. Eddie and "Buckey" won the High Point Pole Bending award several times in the Tri-State Horsemen's Association and many other horse clubs. Eddie spent countless hours traveling to horse shows, something he truly loved. He regularly attended horse shows throughout West Virginia, Kentucky, Ohio, and many fair shows throughout Kentucky. One of his favorite shows was competing with "Buckey" at the AQHA All-American Quarter Horse Congress Horse Show in Columbus, Ohio, in Senior Pole Bending Class. He was a proud member of the American Quarter Horse Association, the National Barrel Horse Association, the former Northeastern Kentucky Quarter Horse Club, and the former Greenup Saddle Club. Along the way, he made many lifelong friends and memories. Everyone who knew Eddie could talk about him for hours because anyone who knew him had a fond memory or funny story about Eddie. Some of the friends close to Eddie had a saying before they would go in the ring to compete in the pole bending class "What's the plan? I'm going to Eddie Barnett it around the end poles." Eddie was a great rider and had his own unique style. He will be greatly missed.

In addition to his parents, he is preceded in death by a brother Carl Wayne Barnett.

He is survived by his wife of 13 years Melissa Stevens Barnett; a son Brandon (Samantha Ferguson) Barnett of Huntington, West Virginia; three daughters Carrie (Larry) Cox of Catlettsburg, Kentucky, Valerie Stevens of Wayne, West Virginia, and Krissy (Aaron) Stevens of Prichard, West Virginia; three sisters Glenda Barrett of Greenup, Kentucky, Stella Emerson of Alabama, and Belinda Barnett of Ashland, Kentucky; eleven grandchildren James Wicker, Ariane Barnett, Brandon Barnett Jr., Dawson Barnett, Chelse Pelfrey, Austin Stevens, Caleb Meredith, Braxton Slone, Emmalee Meredith, Jac Meredith, and Addi Stevens; three great-grandchildren Emily Wicker, Blake Wicker, and Amelia Slone.

A celebration of life will be held 5:00 - 8:00pm on Wednesday, January 28, 2026, at Reed Funeral Home in Greenup, Kentucky. Condolences may be made at www.rlrfuneralhome.com