A tribute to Mr. Trace B. Barnette of Kings Mountain
I was reading The Gaston Gazette several weeks ago and came across an obituary for Mr. Trace B. Barnette from Kings Mountain who passed away on Friday, February 17, 2023, which has left me with a tremendous sense of loss. My relationship with Trace was probably minimal as compared with other people who knew him much better than me.
My first introduction to Trace was probably 25-plus years ago as Trace owned and operated a mobile auto detail business in and around the county for more than 30 years and one day was detailing several vehicles for fellow employees at the bank where I was working at the time.
After my initial introduction to Trace, I immediately realized that he was a man that I really admired on so many different levels. I learned that Trace and I were close in age and had many of the same personal values as it pertained to family and work ethic. Trace graduated from college, Western Carolina, and was well-educated and polished which could have landed him a high-paying corporate job anywhere he desired; however, Trace made the decision to become an entrepreneur and start his own mobile auto detail business.
Trace excelled at this business, not because there was a tremendous need to clean dirty cars but more around his ability to win and influence other people. I earlier mentioned his values and during my numerous contacts with Trace over the last 25 years, there was never one encounter that he did not bring up his love and admiration of his family.
Trace had so many valuable traits. He was honest, dependable, caring, humble, respectful, loving, hardworking, caring and overall, just a genuine nice guy just to name a few. He was also a tremendous leader serving on the Kings Mountain school board and the board of the YMCA, which I did not even realize until I read his obituary. He would always put others before himself and dedicated his life to raising his children and supporting other kids in coaching various sports, especially those around track and field where his children excelled tremendously. He was a proud man and often talked about his kids and their achievements.
Over the years I would see Trace stopped at someone’s business or home to clean a car and would try and make it a point to stop by and speak with him. My last encounter with Trace was a few months ago and it was several months after his two sons, Roman and Desmond, were killed in an automobile accident. Trace was crushed over this loss, but his faith and love of family were pillars in his ability to continue as difficult as this could be for any parent.
Trace knew that he needed to be strong for his wife, Myra, and his daughter, Montrel, whom I have never met, but felt like I have known through my various conversations with Trace over the years. Trace was a loving and dedicated man. I have no clue around what took his life, and honestly it really doesn’t matter, as the important thing to remember is everything Trace did while he was here with us.
He changed lives and influenced so many others, both adults through his actions and children through his coaching skills and leadership examples. It is often said that the dash between your birth date and the day you pass are the most meaningful and I can attest that I truly believe that Trace did everything in his power to make the most of it.
My heart goes out to his wife, Myra, his daughter, Montrel, and his new grandson, Hayden, who will not get to know his grandfather, but will learn about him through Myra and Montrel. Trace, you will be missed and I am very proud to be able to call you a friend. Peace and blessings to you my friend and the entire Barnette Family.
Craig C. Kluttz is a resident of Jefferson, North Carolina.
This article originally appeared on The Gaston Gazette: A tribute to Mr. Trace B. Barnette of Kings Mountain
