St. George, Utah – Jon Cleve Barnes, aged 85, passed away peacefully on July 17, 2025, at St. George, Utah. He was a loving husband, father, and grandfather.

Born in San Francisco, California to Cedric and Jeanette Barnes, Cleve lived a life full of adventure, hardship, and change. He lived in California, Nevada, Canada, and Utah.  He served 4 years in the Navy on the USS Ticonderoga.  He first met Meredith on a merry-go-round in San Francisco and was married 3 weeks later.  They were married 66 years. To their family were born 4 children, although Chuck passed away when he was 3 and shortly after, they joined the church.  He was known for his friendliness and wanting to be helpful whether it be changing out the carpet for a father with disability, distributing food, building a playhouse or fort, camping with scouts at Donner Pass during a blizzard or supervising a welfare farm.

Cleve was a jack of all trades, working at farming, construction, driving big rigs, laying and cleaning carpets, steel works, and airplane assembly. In his free time, he loved camping, hunting, fishing, gardening, dogs, home renovations and repairs, woodworking, and teaching scouts and leaders.

Cleve will be dearly missed by his wife, Meredith; his children: Teresa (Terry) Hurd of St. George, Jill (Tom) Spalding of Payson, Gary (Dian) Barnes of Mayfield; 8 grandchildren; 11 great grandchildren; and friends.  He was preceded in death by his brother, Ronald Barnes; and a son, Jon Charles "Chuck" Barnes.  He was a pioneer in his family and desired with all his heart to share his love of the gospel and for his family to hold on to their faith.

A funeral service to honor and celebrate the life of Cleve will be held on Friday, July 25, 2025, at 10:00 a.m. in the Metcalf Mortuary Chapel, 288 West St. George Blvd., St. George, Utah. A Viewing will be held Friday, prior to services, from 9:00 a.m. to 9:45 a.m. at the Mortuary. Interment will be in Tonaquint Cemetery, 1777 South Dixie Drive, St. George, Utah.

Cleve may have left this world, but his love and legacy will continue to live on in the hearts of all who knew him.

His family would like to thank the caregivers at Legacy Village for their care and dedication.

J. Cleve Barnes Service Program