James “Gaylord” Barnhart, 78, of Elgin, N.D., died Saturday, Jan. 26, 2013, at Sanford Health, Bismarck, N.D. 

Gaylord’s Mass of Christian Burial was Feb. 1 at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church, Dickinson, N.D., with Father Keith Streifel as the celebrant. Burial took place at the Medora Cemetery in Medora, N.D. Visitation was on Jan. 31 at Ladbury Funeral Service in Dickinson, with a prayer service at 7 p.m., with Deacon Al Schwindt presiding.

Gaylord was born on Jan. 16, 1935, to Jim and Hattie (Godfrey) Barnhart, and was raised in Medora. 

He married Irene Emma Reiche, who survives, on May 9, 1958. They adopted a son, John William Barnhart in 1963, and a daughter, Kelly Anne (Barnhart) Hoffman in 1965.

Gaylord was a honky-tonk musician who played in bars, at parties, dances, nursing homes, senior citizen activities and family events all his life. He spent 23 years as a Ford mechanic and 12 years as the maintenance director for a meat packaging plant. He was a jack-of-all-trades who could fix anything and always did.

His family was always the most important thing in his life. He always had a smile and a good word for everyone. He never met a stranger.

He is survived by his wife; his daughter; one brother, Clifford, and Delores Barnhart; one sister, Joan, and Jack Johnson; numerous nieces and nephews; and one grandson, James Dallas Barnhart, of Chino, Calif.

He was preceded in death by his son, John William Barnhart, who passed away Jan. 10, 2011; his parents, Leslie M. "Jim" and Hattie Barnhart; two sisters, LaDelpha (John) Nunn and Gloria (Max) Wilson; and two brothers, Gerald (Dorothy) Barnhart and Leland "Miles" Barnhart. 

Arrangements are with Ladbury Funeral Service, Dickinson; www.ladburyfuneralservice.com