Lee Hamilton Barry

Welling, OK- Lee Hamilton Barry was born on November 7th, 1930 in Chicago, IL the son of Frank and Juanita (Hines) Barry. He served in the United States Army at the age of fifteen, during WWII, as an infantryman and later in the US Navy during the Korean Conflict. He boxed Golden Gloves from 1947 until 1950, where he produced 76 wins and only 2 loses. He was a POW during the Korean Conflict from 1950-1951. He retired to Oklahoma in 1992. He married Elspeth”Beth” Begley on April 1974 in Illinois. Together they raised three grandchildren. Lee was a Sheet Metal Fabricator by trade and worked for Illinois Range. When Lee wasn’t working, he enjoyed spending time hunting and fishing. He was talented with his hands and could build anything. He loved gardening, working crossword puzzles, and reading a good book. Lee liked watching football, and thought there was nothing better than a good fireworks display on July 4th. Most of all, Lee loved his family and the life they had on the ranch. He was proud of his sons, grandchildren and his great grandchildren. He was their biggest fan. Lee passed from this life on Thursday, October 11th, 2012 at Tahlequah City hospital, with his loved ones by his side. Lee was 81 years old. He will be greatly missed by his family and his friends.

Lee is preceded in death by his mother, his father, and one brother, Mark.

Those left to cherish his memory include his wife Beth of the home, and two sons Guy and Brian,and step son Randy and stepdaughter Tina. His legacy lives on in his grandchildren, Ashley, Natasha, Jeremy and Ryan, and his four great grandchildren, Xavier, Zaden, Ashton, and Myangel. He leaves behind three brothers and two sisters, Roy, Lawrence, Lynn, Mary Margaret and Ruby Nina, two special canine companions, “Fireball” and “Bentley”, as well as many nieces, nephews, cousins and a host of friends and loved ones.