This site is intended to give those that loved and miss Barry a chance to share with each other and enjoy the things we loved most about him. 

Please share your pictures or stories and enjoy reliving the fun times we had with him.

Barry was the son of Ray and Shirley Cole.  He had one sister, Tammy, that was 9 1/2 years older. 

Barry was a bundle of energy from the start.  As a young boy, he was always into something with a natural curiosity overflowing.  He was smart too!  You could almost see the wheels turning as he asked a never ending series of questions.  When Barry was just 6 year old his dad died very suddenly.  Oddly enough, his dad was only 41. 

A few years later, Shirley remarried and the family grew to 7 with the addition of a stepfather (Bud), a step brother (David) and 2 step sisters (Linda and Amy). They'd all load up in the old green station wagon for many trips. (If you're picturing Chevy Chase vacation movies at this point you wouldn't be far off.) But it fed Barry's wandering spirit to explore.  He loved it!  Meanwhile, Barry had also developed his dad's love of sports (especially football) and all things outdoors.  As he grew, he spent more and more time at the lake either boating, skiiing, or fishing. The ultimate vacation (that he and Amy would later talk endlessly about) was the one to Canada with all the outdoor activities. But he also loved the winter sports and would tear up the black diamond slopes.  

After high school he opted to work for a printer and then at the local factory instead of continuing in school.  After a bad mishap at the factory, in which he almost lost part of his hand, he took up the brick mason trade.  He went into business with his buddy and they had a successful business for several years.  Several of us in the family have part of his skills embedded in our homes now.  He seemed to get a great deal of joy and pride out of creating something new. 

In his last 3 years, he married and became the stepfather to 2 girls.  He loved those girls with all his heart and treated them as if they were his own. You could see how much he cared by all that he'd do for them.  But most of all, you could see it in his eyes and hear it in his voice when he was talking or do doing something with them.That's the way he was.  He'd more often show his love for you by doing something instead than expressing it in words.  He was straight forward, speaking and acting from the heart always....even if that wasn't the easiest path. 

He had just celebrated his 41st birthday a month before his passing.  We had  family get together complete with gag gifts and joked about reusing the 40 birthday signs for a few more years.  Unfortunately, just like his dad, he was there full of life one day, then suddenly swept away the next...all too soon. 

We love you and miss you Barry.  This is a "lifetime" site in your honor. 

We'll never forget you and hold you close in our hearts.