Jane Coco Barnett

Jane Patricia Coco Barnett (“Shug”), 84, of Lake Charles entered into Heaven on Mother’s Day, Sunday May 14, 2023, surrounded by her loving family and wonderful caregivers.

Jane was born on March 17, 1939 (St. Patrick’s Day) in Marksville, Louisiana to Ura and John Paul Coco; maternal grandparents Ida and Otride Jeansonne; and paternal grandparents Aline and Leon Coco, all of Avoyelles Parish, Louisiana.

Jane was a graduate of Preservation Convent High School (1957) in Marksville, LA, and a graduate of Louisiana State University (1961) in Baton Rouge, LA, where she obtained a Bachelor of Science degree in Education with a minor in English.  While at LSU, she was an active member of Alpha Delta Pi sorority.  After college, Jane moved to Lake Charles and took her first job as an English teacher at Sulphur High School.  On August 4, 1962, she married Billy Nealy Barnett, her spouse for 54 years until the date of his death on August 20, 2016.  She later worked, for many years, as a Legal Secretary for Frank Salter in the Lake Charles District Attorney’s Office.  For many years, following the birth of her three daughters, Jane was the consummate homemaker where she spent her time cooking and baking (a passion of hers), sewing, tickling the ivories (as she would say) at the piano, gardening and tending her flowers (another true passion), entertaining- at home and in Big Lake, hosting bridge parties, nurturing the various family pets, enjoying music, taking care of kids (even those who were not her own), and creating!  After her girls were grown, she returned to work, alongside her husband, at the family business, Petrochem Fluid Controls, Inc., from which they both retired in 2003.  She was a faithful member of Our Lady Queen of Heaven Catholic Church.  Jane was a lady.  She was elegant, gracious, spirited, and a class act.  She will be most remembered for her southern hospitality, slow southern drawl, words of wisdom (aka “Shugisms”), her always open door, and her zest for life!

She leaves to cherish her memory, three daughters, Dawn Barnett Wallwork (Bobby) and their daughter, Janie Wallwork Sonnier (Eric) and great-granddaughter, Camille Dawn Sonnier; Jennifer Gail “Jenny” Sarpalius (William “Bill”); and Nina Jane Barnett Marceaux (Gregory “Greg”) and their children, Holden Paul Marceaux (Kathryn), John Paul Marceaux, William Quinn Marceaux, and Mazie Jane Marceaux.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Billy Neal Barnett and parents, John Paul Coco and Ura Jeansonne Coco.  She is survived by her only brother, John Alton Coco (Mary Ann) of Marksville, LA, and her two half-sisters, Paula Sue Coco Cuva and Lavinia (Sissy) Aline Coco.

A Mass of Christian burial will be at 1:00 PM Saturday, May 20, 2023, at Our Lady Queen of Heaven Catholic Church.  Father Rueben Buller will officiate.  Interment services will follow in Consolata Cemetery.  Visitation Friday, at Johnson Funeral Home, will be at 4:00 PM with a tribute service beginning at 5:00 PM.  A rosary service will follow at 6:00 PM.  Visitation Saturday will be from 11:30 AM until 12:45 PM at Johnson Funeral Home.

A gathering of family and friends will follow the Interment Services at Prien Oaks Subdivision, 4000 Locke Lane #27, Lake Charles, LA, 70605.

Memorial donations may be made to the Alzheimer's Association at alz.org/louisiana.