Michael Edward Barnett, 76 years old, has passed away at his home in Dalton, Georgia, Tuesday, May 4, 2026. Born in Dalton, Georgia, Michael was a 1967 graduate of Valley Point High School, was a veteran of the U.S. Army, having served in Korea.

Michael was characterized by a sharp intellect and an insatiable hunger for knowledge. He was a voracious reader who held a particular affinity for history, religion, psychology and philosophy.

Those who knew him will remember his sharp intellect and his occasional, spirited defiance of convention. He often told the story of how his fascination with existentialism led him to briefly desert the Army for a hippie commune in New Mexico. Though his existential experiment ended with a deployment to Korea, it was there that he met his first wife, with whom he had two daughters, later welcoming his third daughter in a subsequent marriage.

Michael was passionate for dialogue. Whether discussing the works of Kafka or debating complex psychological theories, he challenged his daughters to think critically about the world. His guidance on academic pursuits and his stories of lived philosophy remain a significant part of his legacy. His family road trips and sense of humor will be most fondly remembered.

He is survived by his daughters, Diana Majors of Fort Collins, CO, Sandy (Matt) Wilder of Boulder, CO, and Kayla (Ryan) Applegate of Maumelle, AR, grandchildren, Sky Majors and Bayes Wilder and his sisters, Linda Hobbs and Marie (kennie) Goss. He was preceded in death by Pete and Johnnie Barnett, brother, Stephen Carey Barnett and his nephew, Peter Ryan “Pete” Hobbs all of Dalton, Georgia.

He will be laid to rest with his family at Dug Gap Cemetery in Dalton, Georgia.

Arrangements are entrusted to Ponders Melrose Chapel, 138 Melrose Drive, Dalton, Georgia 30721. www.selectedindependentfuneralhomes.org.