Elizabeth P Barnes

Elizabeth Paige Barnes, age 75, of Morgantown, West Virginia, passed away unexpectedly but peacefully on Friday, April 3, 2026. She was born in Uniontown, Pennsylvania, where she developed the passion for dance that would define her life. She later made her home in Morgantown, where she spent decades shaping the lives of students and families through the art she loved most.

Elizabeth, known to most simply as “Beth,” devoted her life to dance. From her early years training in Uniontown at the Katy Lyon Dance Center to advanced studies with the Russian ballet and appearances on television, dance was never just something she did; it was who she was. She founded and directed the Beth Barnes School of Dance for more than 40 years, inspiring thousands of students. Her studio was more than a place to learn steps; it was where generations of dancers found confidence, joy, and a lasting love of the art.

Beth was preceded in death by her grandparents, Otto Charles Cluss and Helen Shields Cluss; her parents, Helen Cluss Barnes and Clayton Junior Barnes; and her brother, Russell Barnes.

She is survived by her brother, Douglas Barnes (Mary Ann); her daughter, Victoria Hunt (née Doman); her son-in-law, Anthony Hunt; and her beloved grandchildren, Stellan and Berkeley Hunt, who were truly the light of her life. She is also survived by numerous cousins, nieces, and nephews from the Cluss, Barnes, Pollock, and Doman families.

Beth was warm, funny, and she was known for her unforgettable laugh. She loved talking on the phone and sharing stories with friends and family. She had a gift for striking up conversations with strangers and followed the lives of Victoria’s friends as if they were her own.

Known to her grandchildren as “BB,” Beth cherished every visit, sharing special traditions such as the “Chippy the Chipmunk” stories passed down from her own parents and feeding carrots to the bunnies in the yard with Stellan.

As a mother, Beth was deeply involved and loving. She taught Victoria to dance, but more importantly, she taught her how to love fully and show up for the people who matter. Beth’s presence in Victoria’s life was constant, marked by daily conversations and a shared joy in life together.

Beth’s legacy lives on in every student who ever stepped into her studio, every audience she moved, every conversation she shared, and most of all, in the family who loved her for who she was.

Visitation will be held in the DONALD R. CRAWFORD FUNERAL HOME, HOPWOOD, PA on Friday, April 10, 2026, from 3:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. A service celebrating Beth’s life will be held at the funeral home on Saturday, April 11, 2026, at 11:00 a.m. with Pastor Jim Engel officiating, followed by burial at Oak Lawn Cemetery in Uniontown, PA.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Beth Barnes Memorial Fund:
https://gofund.me/413875091

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