Don “Jiggs” Clinton Barnes, 94, rode his last ride on Aug. 1, 2024. He passed away at home with his wife, eating ice cream in his chair. He was born to Charles Clinton Barnes and Fannie Belle Holloway Barnes on Feb. 21, 1930, with his twin sister Donna.

Jiggs and Donna joined four sisters, Stephanie Ferne (Cagle), Jennie (Otley), Thelma (Otley) and Josephine (Urizar). He was raised on the family ranch in Frenchglen, and attended grade school there. Jiggs attended high school in the only public boarding school after World War II at that time, at Crane. At times they got out of class to help unload the train when it stopped in Crane. He helped with his dad’s hay camps during haying season and with all the other ranch responsibilities. 

Jiggs married Judith Ann Payne in 1956. To this union were born, Anita (Stenson Clontz – Twin Falls, Idaho), Darrell (Judy Weider Barnes – Bend, Ore.), Cynthia (Alacano – Powell Butte, Ore.), Julia (Ken Tew – St David, Ariz.), and Dana (Rick Williamson – Baker City, Ore.), joining them on the ranch.  The crew grew with bonus kid Scott (Nellie – Burns, Ore.) Franklin.  Many ‘strays’ passed through the gate that were welcomed to the crew. Jiggs was an accomplished welder and could fix most anything out of necessity. Judy made a sign for him that hung in his Frenchglen shop that read; “We weld everything but Broken Hearts & The Crack of Dawn”.  

Jiggs married Lucille Mae Radar in 1982 and the extended family grew with Becky (Jim) Brown – Prineville, Ore., Debbie (Robert) Hogan – Macksville, KS, Andy (Lisa) Radar – Burns, Ore. and Tammy (Leon) Everhart – Macksville, Kan.  

Jiggs was a lifelong rancher, raising cattle and sheep under the H7 brand. He worked for Rex & Ethel Clemens, living in Diamond, on the ranch in the Kiger, when the Malheur Refuge canceled the leases of the local Ranchers in 1978.  Jiggs was a lifetime member of the Burns Elks Lodge #1680 and lived his entire life in Harney County except for one year. When he retired from the Clemens Ranch, he and Lucille spent one year in Baker City helping daughter Julie and Ken Tew, then moved back to Burns, raising sheep and herding quail that he called his “chickens”.

Jiggs is survived by his wife, Lucille, married just short of 42 years; twin sister, Donna Jordan of Pilot Rock; and all 10 children. He was preceded in death by his parents, sisters and brothers-in-law, son-in-law, Craig Alacano; grandson, Cody Alacano; uncle Art and Aunt Myrtle Barnes; nephews, Charlie Cagle and Dick Otley. Jiggs is survived by numerous nieces, nephews, grandchildren, great-and great-great-grandchildren.

A special thank you to Harney County Home Hospice team, Nurse Matt, Harney County Hospital and ER team, Dr. Kevin Price and Collette, Dave and Penny Louther, Tony and Diane Urizar, Scott and Nellie Franklin, Shane and Crystal Otley, Ray and Jay Beck, Claudio and Maria Iturriaga, Ken and Polly Post, family members, anyone whom we forgot to mention, and all the people who sent kind words and prayers.

Graveside services Aug. 10, at 11 a.m. at the Burns Cemetery with a luncheon and a slide show immediately following at the Burns Elks Lodge #1680.

Contributions in Jiggs Barnes’s memory can be made to the Harney County Home Health, 415 N Fairview Ave, Burns, Oregon 97720 or to a charity of one’s choice, in care of LaFollette’s Chapel P.O. Box 488; Burns, OR 97720.