John Joseph Barry - 1930-2006
John Joseph Barry, 76, died June 8, 2006, in Hospice Care Ceneter. He was born March 10, 1930, in Chicago, a son of the late Willard “Wee” Barry and Catherine Garrity Barry.
He was a member of Sts. John and Elizabeth Catholic Church in Grayson and was a member of Glenmary Home Missioners for 22 years. He earned his master’s degree in English at the University of Chicago and was a professor of English at Loyola University in New Orleans. He was a union organizer for ACTWV for several years. He taught elementary school in Lynchburg, Va., and was a director of Bethany House in Olive Hill.
Throughout his adult life, John enjoyed music, especially native Appalachian music. He played several musical instruments and composed songs which reflected the Appalachian culture. He published a compilation of his religious songs and was especially proud of the music he composed for worship at Sts. John and Elizabeth Catholic Church, mainly, “Carter County Mass.” Earlier, he collaborated with Virginia Wittekind in composing, “A Mountain Mass.”
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his uncles, the Rev. A. Garrity and Richard J. Barry.
John is survived by his wife of 28 years, Janet Rougier Barry; sons, Joseph and Christopher Barry; and a sister, Sister Marise, O.P. (Nancy).
A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at Sts. John and Elizabeth Catholic Church in Grayson at 10 a.m. Monday, June 12, 2006, with Father Bruce Brylinski officiating. Entombment will follow at Golden Oaks Memorial Gardens in Ashland.
Visitation will be from 6 to 9 p.m. Sunday at Steen Funeral Home- Marshall Steen Chapel, 3409 13th Street, Ashland.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Sts. John and Elizabeth Catholic Church, Grayson, KY 41143; Glenmary Home Missioners, P.O. Box 465618, Cincinnati, OH 45246-5618; or Community Hospice, 1538 Central Ave., Ashland, KY 41101.
Online condolences may be sent to steenfuneralhomes.com.
