Candy "Freida" Barnes Andrea "Annie" Barnes
(November 17, 1960 - June 15, 2017) (August 8, 1989 - July 28, 2017)
When Candy Barnes, age 56, died at University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics on June 15, 2017, surrounded by her loving family, this quote rang true with her only daughter, Andrea Barnes. Candy and Andrea shared a strong and adoring mother-daughter bond. Just six weeks following Candy's death, tragedy brought the Barnes family back to the University of Iowa Hospital; Andrea, only 27 years old, died unexpectedly as the result of a pulmonary embolism.
In her younger years, Candy "Freida" Barnes enjoyed watching stock car races at the local tracks and became famous as "the hotdog lady," happily serving everyone free hotdogs following the races. She loved taking motorcycle rides, spending time at their family cabin on the Cedar River, and socializing at the semi-annual fish fries provided by their town's volunteer fire department. She and her husband Jim lived their entire married lives in Letts, Iowa, and their children were planning a 35th wedding anniversary celebration for their parents in August. Candy was hospitalized and died two months shy of their special day.
Andrea, "Annie" to her family and friends, was the youngest in her family--growing up with two older brothers--but is fondly remembered as a "little sister" to many others. She was working as a senior loan processor/closer at Community Bank and Trust in Muscatine, Iowa at the time of her death. She also lived in the small southeastern Iowa town of Letts, where her infectious laugh is missed by all. Like her father had done for more than 40 years, Annie proudly served as a volunteer firefighter for the Letts Community Volunteer Fire Department.
Both Candy and Andrea's greatest joy was the time they spent with each other, their family, and their friends. With intent to help others, the selfless generosity of this devoted mother and daughter pair became their legacy in death as tissue and cornea donors.