Marion “Fred” Carnes, 94, of Villa Rica, GA passed away peacefully at his home on November 29, 2023, surrounded by his family. He was born in Villa Rica, GA on February 16, 1929, the son of the late Joe Fred Carnes and Lois Wix Carnes. He lived his entire lifetime in the Carroll County and Paulding County area and worked for Cannon Casket Company in Villa Rica, GA, Colonial Caskets of Douglasville and later for Southland Casket Company in Atlanta until his retirement in 1994. While working at Southland, he and his wife Nell built the casket that was used for Martin Luther King. Jr’s. funeral. Fred enjoyed playing sports in his youth, especially with his brothers and the boys in the Fullerville Mill Village. He loved to travel, taking trips every weekend to North Georgia where he would spend lots of time trout fishing. He also loved his family, often having nieces and nephews over at his home and in later years taking grandkids on camping trips. He will be missed by many.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his first wife, Mary Nell Johnson Carnes; two brothers, Ernest (Dunc) Carnes and Robert Kenneth (Kenny) Carnes; a son Brian Keith Allison and two sisters-in-law, Pat Carnes and Donna Johnson.

He is survived by his wife, Phyllis Carnes and his daughter, Brigit Allison Combs and her husband Bill, all of Villa Rica; a brother, Joe Venoy Carnes of Douglasville, GA; a granddaughter, Caleigh Rose Allison and a grandson, Wade Rex Cannon-Combs; a number of nieces and nephews; and special family friends, Cindy, Julie, Rusty and his puppy “Marty”.   

The family will receive friends at the J. Hoyt Thomas Funeral Home in Villa Rica, GA on Sunday, December 3, 2023, from 12:30 – 2:30 P.M

The funeral service will follow in the Chapel at 2:30 P.M. with the Rev. Jeff Powell officiating. The following gentlemen will serve as pallbearers, Wade Cannon-Combs, Orin Camp, Grant Camp, Austin Camp, Edd Saxon and Tony Carnes.  Keith Carnes and Michael Miller will serve as honorary pallbearers. Interment will follow in Melrose Hills Memorial Park Cemetery in Paulding County.

The family would like to send a “thank you” to the Villa Rica Tanner Nursing Staff and the Family Hospice Care unit for their excellent service and to Judy Tallent, Crystal and Nicole for their special care.  

Messages of condolence may be sent to the family at www.jhoytthomas.com.

J. Hoyt Thomas Funeral Home of Villa Rica is caring for the Carnes Family.