Carl was born on July 11, 1947, in St. Louis, the son of Fred and Florence Barnes. He attended public schools and the University of Illinois in Champaign, Illinois. He later lived and worked in Champaign, Springfield, and Chicago, Illinois; Dallas, Texas; and St. Louis.

Carl enjoyed three different careers: After working for the State of Illinois for three years in Springfield, Illinois, he moved to Chicago and joined Price Waterhouse, a (then) “Big Eight” accounting firm, as a business consultant, and later became one of a small minority of non-CPA’s to be made a partner. While there, he consulted for Bill Clinton, Joe Teasdale, Kit Bond, Playboy Magazine, and for many state and municipal governments from coast-tocoast. He also visited the inside of 46 state Capitol buildings. In 1993, Carl left Price Waterhouse after 21 years; bought Reed Lumber, a pallet manufacturing business in Potosi, Missouri which he and Lisa still own at his death; and had their first child. Carl led an active, exciting, well-traveled life. Their summer after high school, he lived with his friend since first grade, Kip Pope, at Brookhaven Resort on Glen Lake, Michigan, then owned by Kip’s aunt and uncle, Parker and Norma Jean Thomas. Kip and Carl later bought Brookhaven in 1988, and since then, Carl, Kip, and their families have enjoyed vacationing every summer there.

Carl owned two airplanes at different times and obtained his instrument and commercial ratings as well as flew aerobatics. He flew his own bush plane four times to Alaska with a friend and once solo to Nova Scotia.

Those who knew Carl know that he had an inimitable sense of humor. His puns were unique and numerous, and his jokes and stories produced endless laughter and frequent eye rolls.

Carl is survived by his wife Lisa Graivier Barnes; their son, Fred Barnes, and their daughter, Emma Barnes, both of Kansas City and both his proudest accomplishments; sisters-in-laws, brothers-in-laws, nieces, nephews, and cousins. He was preceded in death by his parents, two half-brothers, and his in-laws. A graveside service, funeral, and Shiva reception were held in St. Louis on April 17, 2026.

Please visit bergermemorialchapel.com for a more detailed obituary highlighting Carl’s life.