Donald Barry

DONALD RAY BARRY

Donald Ray Barry, age 72, of rural Kahoka, MO, died Tuesday, January 3, 2012, in Keokuk Area Hospital.

Donnie was born at home near Kahoka, MO on July 16, 1939, one of thirteen children and a twin born to Harold and Marguerite Parsons Barry.

He graduated from Kahoka High School in 1957 and entered the U.S. Army shortly following.

On September 21, 1957, he was united in marriage to Janice Presser at the First Baptist Church in Wayland, MO.

Survivors include his wife, Janice, of the home; two sons, Vaughn (Rita) Barry of Alexandria, MO and Rex Barry of Kahoka, MO; one daughter, Teresa (Mrs. Stan) Logsdon of Canton, MO; daughter-in-law, Paula Barry of Noblesville, IN; eleven grandchildren: Jeremy (Robyn) Burkhart of Kahoka, Janice (James) Barnes of Alexandria, MO, Rebecca Barry of Noblesville, IN, Jim (Mandi) Logsdon of Canton, Misty (Kevin) Osbon of Alexandria, Faye Cook of Kahoka, Nate (Kendra) Logsdon of Canton and Zack (Brigetta) Logsdon of Canton, Kristina Logsdon of Canton, Kristal Logsdon of Canton, MO and Carson Barry of Memphis, TN; thirteen great-grandchildren as well as one on the way; eleven brothers and sisters: Margaret and Max Byers of Kahoka, Betty and Tom Logsdon of Kahoka, Dean and Jan Barry of Clark, MO, Arthur and Marilyn Barry of Titusville, Fl, Floyd and April Barry of Canton, Vernon and Carol Barry of Davenport, IA, Dorothy and Dean Hunziker of Kahoka, John and Sharon Barry of Keokuk, Barbara and Wesley Parrish of Kahoka, Connie and Gary Watson of Fredericktown, MO and Patricia and Bob Higgins of Broken Arrow, OK; sisters-in-law and brother-in-law: Nancy Barry of Canton, Donna Smith of Wichita, KS and Joyce and DeWayne Jackson of Warrensburg, MO; 88 nieces and nephews; 123 great nieces and nephews; 17 great-great nieces and nephews; as well as other relatives.

He was preceded in death by his parents; father-in-law and mother-in-law, Floyd and Eithel Presser; two brothers, his twin, Ronald J., and David Harold Barry; sister-in-law, Carol Barry; and, two brothers-in-law, Donald Lunt and Dewey Soper and nephew Mike Barry.

Donnie was a retired U. S. Army Veteran serving five tours of combat duty with the U. S. Army Special Services (Green Berets). The majority of his service his family resided at Fort Bragg, NC. He received numerous awards during his 20 years of duty, including the Combat Infantrymans Badge, Purple Heart, two Bronze Stars, the Meritorious Service Medal, and also General Omar Bradleys Award for Humanitarianism - the Pieta, of which only one is awarded per year to one deserving service man. Following his retirement from the service, Donnie returned with his family to Clark County. For several years he ran D & Js Bar in Wayland until he decided to campaign for Sheriff. He was elected and served as Sheriff of Clark County for twelve years. In later years he was an over the road truck driver for Vemillion Brothers in Keokuk as long as his health permitted.

Donnie was a founder and served as First Commander of Ayer-Boatman Post # 4342, V.F.W. Together with his family, he attended the Life Tabernacle Church at Canton, MO. He lived a life of service and protection of freedom to the people of Clark County and to the United States of America.

Funeral services were held Friday, January 6, 2012, at 1 p.m. at Life Tabernacle Church in Canton, MO with Brother Paul Kinney officiating. Burial with full military rites followed in the National Cemetery in Keokuk, IA.

Memorials were suggested to Ayer-Boatman Post # 4342, V.F.W.