Bevan Athol Barnett

Bevan Athol Barnett, 76, of Logan, passed away Monday, October 25, 2021, at the Pickering House in Lancaster.  He was born September 26, 1945, in Nelson, New Zealand, son of the late Athol and Joyce Burns Barnett.  Bevan was married to Jacqueline Beattie Barnett, who survives.

Growing up as a child in New Zealand, Bevan had a love for anything American, especially Native American and Western movies, and it had long been his dream to move to the United States. After his apprenticeship with the ministry of works in New Zealand, his marriage, and the birth of his two children, Bevan applied for his first overseas assignment with the New Zealand government in the Pacific Island of Tonga. The Barnett family spent four enjoyable years in Tonga, during which Bevan was in charge of the upkeep and the repairs of all the machinery used for the building of their international runway. The family returned to New Zealand in 1976 where Bevan was in charge of the apprenticeship program at the hydroelectric power scheme in Twizel, New Zealand. But Bevan was restless for more overseas trips and the family moved to Brisbane, Australia where Bevan worked for a ship building company. During their time in Australia the family decided to immigrate to the United States in December of 1979. They moved to Logan, Ohio where Bevan got a job as a foreman mechanic under city service director Tom Gray. In 1986, Bevan started a construction company which is still in business today. He became well known for his excellent workmanship and his honesty on any job however large or small. One of his most well-known projects was the Canopy Tours Zipline towers. In 1999, together with a group of friends, the Barnett’s purchased and moved the Columbus Washboard Company to Logan, where it is still in operation and flourishing today. Bevan also built the world’s largest washboard which now hangs on the Columbus Washboard Company. Bevan retired from the construction company in 2011 to build his dream house with his wife and travel extensively around the US on their Honda Goldwing. In the last year of his life, Bevan developed congestive heart failure through two heart attacks and had been cared for at home surrounded by family and the lovely staff of Pickering House. He is sadly missed by his many friends and his loving family in the US and in New Zealand.

Bevan is survived by his son, Christopher David Barnett of Nelson, New Zealand; daughter, Deidre Dann of Sandy Oregon; four grandchildren; brother, Peter Barnett of Nelson, New Zealand and sisters, Margaret Martyn, Lynette Rillsone, Kay Register, Jacqueline and Jillian Barnett, all of New Zealand.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his son, David Charles Barnett.

A private celebration of life service will be held at a later date.  Arrangements are by Cardaras Funeral Home, 183 E. Second St., Logan.

In lieu of flowers please consider donating in Bevans’s name to the Wounded Warriors Project.  Wounded Warriors Website: supportwwp.org/welcome or by mail to, Michael S. Linnington, Wounded warrior Project, 4899 Belfort Road, Suite 300, Jacksonville, Florida 32256.

Please sign his online guestbook at www.cardaras.com