Obituary

Craig Stephen Barnes unexpectedly entered his heavenly home on Friday, January 6, 2023 at the age of 69. Born on April 1st, 1953 in Covington, KY, Craig was the oldest child of a large and beautiful family in Northern Kentucky. Craig was always known for his humor and, although he had many accomplishments to his name, he always joked about being "C-average" in school. The irony is that Craig was brilliant, taking an innovative, creative, and passionate approach to his career (and everything in his life). A graduate of Holmes High School and Northern Kentucky University, Craig spent early parts of his career as a producer of syndicated television including the Bob Braun Show, before entering into business for himself, owning and operating an advertising and marketing agency for almost 30 years. In his "second act," Craig took his decades of knowledge to mentor other small business owners as part of Agency Management Institute (AMI). The light of Craig's life was his family and friends. He married Kelly Anne Yelton, whom he lovingly called his "beautiful bride" for 38 years, on September 8, 1984. Kelly and Craig had two children. He was an incredible father figure-not only to his children but to their partners, friends, nieces, nephews, and many more he pulled into his extended family. Craig was the best "Pop" to his 3 grandchildren, schooling them early in the importance of laughter, cooking, family, and unconditional love. To know Craig was to love Craig. He was generous in every way: generous with his time, his love, his possessions, his talents. A one-time purveyor of bolo ties and ponytails and a perpetual rocker of a mustache, Craig taught those in his life the true meaning of family. He had lifelong friends. He filled his home with music, beautiful décor, great food, and plentiful libations. Nothing made him happier than his dining room table filled with loved ones eating food he cooked in his kitchen. Craig was a cancer survivor, an "amateur" chef, an avid fan of St. Louis baseball and hockey, and purveyor of fine wine and bourbon whiskey. Like Frank Sinatra, Craig should be remembered "as a man who had a wonderful time living life, a man who had good friends, and fine family". Craig was preceded in death by his parents: Barbara and Bill Barnes, a sister: Kimberly Evans Murphy, and a nephew: Ryan Bick. Craig is survived by his wife: Kelly Yelton Barnes; his beloved children: Taylor (Ashley) Barnes-Gilbert and Connor (Corinne) Barnes, a brother: Kevin (Martha) Barnes, two sisters: Betsy (Michael) Duncan and Barbie Barnes, and his three beautiful grandchildren who were the light of his life: Lucy, Kieran, and Harper. He is also survived by his sisters-in-law: Pam (Joe) Bick and Stacy Yelton, as well as seven nieces and nephews who adored him, and five amazing great-nieces and nephews. Public Visitation will take place on Tuesday, January 10, 2022 from 10:00 AM until the Memorial Service at 11:00 AM at Connley Brothers Funeral Home, 11 East Southern Avenue, Covington (Latonia), Kentucky 41015. Entombment: Mother of God Cemetery, Fort Wright, Kentucky. The family requests no flowers be sent. Memorials in Craig's honor may be made to: Siteman Cancer Center online at siteman.wustl.edu/tribute or via mail at 7425 Forsyth Blvd., St. Louis, MO