Brent Ellis Barnhart

There are some people whose presence simply makes life better. Brent Ellis Barnhart was one of those people. Brent passed away on July 30, 2026, at the age of 59. Born on August 31, 1966, in Kansas City, Missouri, to Earl and Dorothy (Shelton) Barnhart. He spent his childhood in Nixa, Missouri before moving to Brandon, Mississippi, as a teenager. It was there that he met the young woman who would become the love of his life, Krista Atkinson. They married in 1989 and spent the next 37 years building a life centered on faith, family, and friendship.

Shortly after marriage, Brent established a plumbing company in Missouri which later led him to a position at BNSF Railway. In 1997, he and Krista settled in Hernando, Mississippi. As Brent continued his work for the Railway, he began building a successful career as a contractor and developer. He took great pride in the challenge of every project, believing that a handshake still meant something and a job was only finished when it was done right.

Although Brent achieved many professional accolades throughout his career, his deepest joy was his family. He adored his daughters, Raegan Dare Barnhart and Mary Ellis Barnhart. They were the light of his life. He celebrated every accomplishment, comforted every disappointment, and loved them without reservation. His family continued to grow with the addition of his bonus son, Colin Liles, and his wife, Katelyn (McCluskey). Becoming "Pop" to McCoy, McGraw, and Miller opened an exciting new chapter. He looked forward to watching them grow, teaching them to hunt and fish, and passing along the traditions that had meant so much to him.

Brent had a remarkable way of making people feel at home through his actions. Conversations with Brent rarely ended where they began. His family liked to say that Brent could fix anything but a broken heart and the crack of dawn, a saying that never failed to make him smile. Brent's happiest days were often the simplest: an early morning in a deer stand, a fishing trip with family or friends, an Ole Miss football game, Pickwick weekends, and entertaining with fun stories around one of his many grills. Those ordinary moments became extraordinary because of Brent.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Earl and Dorothy (Shelton) Barnhart; his beloved daughter, Raegan Dare Barnhart; his brother, Lou Burns; his brother-in-law, Doug Fox; and his father-in-law, Wayne Atkinson.

Brent is survived by his devoted wife, Krista (Atkinson) Barnhart; his daughter, Mary Ellis Barnhart of Nashville, Tennessee; his bonus son, Colin (Katelyn) of Hernando, Mississippi; his cherished grandsons, McCoy, McGraw, and Miller; his sister, Robin (Barnhart) Fox of Ozark, Missouri; his mother-in-law, Carol Atkinson of Brandon, Mississippi; his brother-in-law, Eric Atkinson of Raleigh, North Carolina; along with many beloved nieces, nephews, extended family members, and countless friends who became family.

A visitation will be held Monday, August 3, 2026 from 12 - 2 p.m. at Hernando Methodist Church, followed by a celebration of life at 2 p.m. Memorial gifts may be made to the CAST for Kids Foundation, castforkids.org, or the Hernando Methodist Church Building Fund.