Contributions to the tribute of Barry Jay Smith

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Michael Roberts posted a symbolic gesture

Thursday, December 17, 2020

Moving is one of life’s most stressful events, when Ann & I met Barry & Diane 8 years ago, we knew fun times were in our futures. I plan to share those stories over the days to come. As Fritz conveyed, Barry loved to talk, anything less was like asking cows not to moo… I call this abbreviated story “The Dealerships Son” The most exciting birthday day for most teenagers is 16, for BJS, a son of a successful Chrysler Dealership… Priceless…Wow, A new car every 5K miles, that is, until your father has to call you into his office one day and tells you, son, your driving skills leave me no choice, here’s the keys to your used car…Those that know the story, understand all the white spaces I omitted....

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Buddy and Sheena Hall lit a candle

Wednesday, December 16, 2020

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Buddy and Sheena Hall Posted Dec 16, 2020 at 9:09 PM

Barry Jay Smith, what can we say? No way... we are sad, tears flowing down - as we think about our sweet friends, Barry and Diane! Barry is no longer struggling to breathe but delighting in the new body and space with no more pain, no more suffering..... I know he is up in heaven trying to figure out what Lease space needs to be placed in a certain area and making sure it fits just right! Barry loved life and he loved his family! Barry also loved his friends, and treated us all as family! <3

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Diane M Smith lit a candle

Tuesday, December 15, 2020

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Diane M Smith Posted Dec 15, 2020 at 10:33 AM

Can't believe it is now one week anniversary of you leaving us to be with the Lord. Although the pain I feel is nearly unbearable, I praise God every day that he took you before the real suffering began with the horrific disease you were going into final stage with....COPD.

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Fritz Draper posted a symbolic gesture

Sunday, December 13, 2020

Our Draper family loved Barry and shared many great times together. We spent many dinners and Holidays together - always his Club Soda on ice with 3 limes. Barry enjoyed eating - and of course- talking. One evening, Barry and Diane came for dinner - they had some obligation they needed to get to later that night. Diane quietly gave us all a plea to not engage Barry in conversation while eating supper - that while they were in no rush - they did have to get going later that evening. Like asking cows not to moo. Our kids and Barry talked and laughed it up as usual, Barry was last (by far) to finish - especially after 3rd helping of roast beef and mashed potatoes- and of course he and Diane were late to their engagement. Barry - we love you and will miss you greatly.

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Mike Potier posted a condolence

Saturday, December 12, 2020

Barry was just a blast to be around! Some of my fondest memories were playing golf with Barry. I forget what course it was or what year but it was a course near Barry & Diane’s in Henderson, NV and I will never forget the hole that requires a shot over a lake… (Barry detested shots like that) and I think he may have ran out of balls trying to get over that water! I don’t recall what his score was on that hole but it had to set some sort of record! Another hole comes to mind (probably another course and another day)… it was really windy and a very elevated tee with a really hard wind blowing directly at our backs… Barry hit a good drive down the left which carried a hill and probably ended up 300+ yards from the tee! He raved about that shot for years; for good reason and may still be bragging about it! Barry was also my only witness to the longest putt I have ever made; another course near the Henderson home… I hit onto a green at the top left…. well the pin was about 75 to 100 feet away on the front right. The green was bowl-like and I hit that putt almost diagonally with the hole – dead left – and it broke and broke and swung around finally ended up dead center in the cup! Barry, I want you bragging on me to all your new friends in heaven, OK? I met Verne Winchell (the donut founder who passed away in 2002 at the age of 87) through Barry & Diane and was with Verne and Barry at a local casino near their home and also placed a bet on one of Verne’s “tips” as we were betting on horses at the casino. I put $100 on the nose based on Verne’s tip (Barry bet bigger): “Sell the farm and put it all on _____ “, Verne says! Well, I didn’t know Verne that well and that did not seem like a very wise thing to do so I stuck my toe in the water with a $100 bet and soon regretted not taking Barry’s advice to listen to him! Barry told me about how he visited Verne at his ranch - I think in Kentucky – and was out in the stands watching various horses race around the track. Barry leans over to Verne and asks: “Which ones are yours, Verne?” and Verne responds: “They’re ALL mine, Barry!” Barry & Diane did a lot construction for Verne & his son, Ron building a chain of restaurants known as “Winchell’s Pub and Grill”. Barry really loved people and telling stories was just part of who Barry was. I have re-told the water buffalo story many times and may be boring some of you who new Barry yourselves (because no doubt… you have heard it also), but I love the story about the safari he was on and how he and the crew came upon this water buffalo who charged at them… Barry shot the water buffalo right between the eyes… a little above that in the forehead… and fortunately it stopped the charge. The buffalo seemed dazed and shook his head and finally disappeared into the bush. Barry told the crew in his typical Texas twang: “I hit him! I hit him! Let’s go and get him!” Also fortunately, Barry had an experienced crew with him. They directed Barry onto the back of the truck they were driving and several of the crew were trying to stabilize Barry’s bony legs as they cautiously entered the bush looking for this huge wounded buffalo. Well, they must have been successful as I think I recall seeing the head mounted on the wall at Barry & Diane’s home among many other prized trophies… each with a unique story. Barry was the epitome of the Great White Hunter! I am sure that many more stories will come to mind over the coming days and weeks but I wanted to at least get a couple of them out there. We will always love you and miss you Barry, but save us a spot at the table… we will be with you shortly and I can hardly wait to hear your stories!

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Pat Gallagher posted a condolence

Friday, December 11, 2020

I would imagine I'm one of Barry's newest friends having only met him about 3 months ago when he saw my add in a collectors magazine,, and though we have never met face to face, I feel like that friendship has spanned many years. Our first conversation lasted 3 hours, but at the end I knew I had just bonded with a life long friend. We shared multiple stories of growing' up (me in NYC, he in Austin), the interesting and unique friends we both surrounded ourselves with in that time, our collections and shared passions, and our great families and wonderful wives. During that short time, we spent several hours over multiple weekly calls discussing just about anything, like 2 old and dear friends tend to do (and I say dear friend because that's what he became to me despite the short time frame). I would imagine my experience with him was not unique, and actually envy the multiple years of friendship and experiences he shared with his many friends. I miss him and his calls already, but I'm confident he's already got a gang of angels surrounding him, enthralled .by his many many interesting and anecdotal stories-rest in peace my friend Pat Gallagher Eden Prairie, MN

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The family of Barry Jay Smith uploaded a photo

Friday, December 11, 2020

Barry Jay Smith

1946 - 2020

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