Mrs. Dorothy Cannon Barry

September 10, 1921 - July 20, 2017

Dorothy Cannon Barry was born Sept. 10, 1921, in Henderson, TX – a town she called home for most of her life. She died July 20, 2017, in Tyler’s Hospice of East Texas, slipping after 95 years from peaceful sleep into perpetual light. The first-born daughter of Gause and Kathleen Cannon, Dorothy was preceded in death by her parents; by husband of 66 years, James A. Barry; by son-in-law Ivan Willard; by brother-in-law James Mason; and by her great-grandsons John Caleb Barry and James Cannon Willard. She is survived by her daughter, Cyndy Willard of Henderson, and her son and daughter-in-law, Jim and Kay Barry of Tyler; by her sister, Jo Anne Mason of Henderson; by grandchildren Jill and Jeff Young, Barry and Rachel Willard, Amy and Trey Hacker, Ginger and Jeremy Brandt, and Shannon and Betsy Barry; by her nieces and nephew, Pat Sudduth, Kay Mason and Mike Mason and wife Debbie; by special cousins Jadean Roberts, Gena Cannon and Dick Whitaker; and by 12 great-grandchildren: Will and Hank Young, Carson and Kerith Willard, Hope and Jack Hacker, Miles, Owen and Lucas Brandt, and Joshua, Micah and Jesse Barry. Acknowledged by all who knew her as one of the greatest – even among a Generation of Greats – Dot spent her life collecting friends and experiences. She married James Barry and helped build his career with Southern charm deployed across multiple cities in 2 states. She raised their 2 children among a large, loud and eccentric clan, creating everyday magic and passing down passions for storytelling, travel and Texas. Like so many peers, she bore a spouse’s tour of duty in World War II and a son’s tour in Vietnam. She stayed up on all news and family exploits, kept in contact with everyone, mailed out cheer and witty observation – in literally hundreds of cards and newspaper clippings, remembered to call on birthdays and showed up for special events. Her love of family grew exponentially with grandchildren, grandnieces and grandnephews but exploded with the latest generation of “greats.” Both international traveler and everyday grandmother, she and James visited Great Britain, Europe, the Holy Lands – to name a few. But they were also, so often, at home and awaiting visitors -- back door unlocked, pantry full of snacks. Her refrigerators in 3 successive homes were plastered with great grandchildren’s faces. No babies have ever been cuter, smarter or sweeter than the ones in GiGi’s family. Dot loved games like Mah Jongg and challenges like jigsaw puzzles. Until the last years of life, she never watched TV without needlepointing or knitting. She read constantly. She entertained using every cooking shortcut in the book. And she laughed more than two ordinary people combined. None of Dot’s life would have worked without a deep and real Christian faith, where prayer was sustaining and the Bible brought strength for the journey. In her, Love was made deed and relationships were covered in grace. In fact, if we are what we love, Dot Barry was a beautiful crazy quilt of people and places, of connections and community and of small, marvelous things. At her request, her private burial service was held Saturday, July 22, 2017, at Lakewood Memorial Park in Henderson, with her son, the Rev. Jim Barry, and the Rev. David Luckert officiating under the direction of Crawford-A. Crim Funeral Home. Words of comfort may be shared with the family at www.crawfordacrim.com.