Barry Jess Wallace

Barry Jess Wallace was born on May 20, 1947, in Shawnee, Oklahoma. His mom and dad were living there while his dad was in college studying for the ministry before going to the seminary in Ft. Worth, Texas. Barry spent his younger years in the small towns of Cox City, Tuttle and Konawa, Oklahoma. When he was ten years old his family moved to Sedalia, Missouri, where his dad was a Baptist preacher. By that time, he had two younger sisters, Judy and Carolyn. His mom was a school teacher, having finished her degree when Barry was in high school. Barry graduated from high school the same year his mom got her college degree.

Sports was Barry’s main focus in high school—primarily basketball. He excelled and later played college basketball on a scholarship. His game was not, however, based on finesse. He was nicknamed The Animal in college for what his friends describe as an overly aggressive style of play. Barry claimed this title was unfair and most of the violations called were the result of poor officiating and the clumsiness and bad footwork of his opponents.

Barry never really knew what he wanted to be when he grew up. In fact, some would say he never grew up. After college he taught a year of high school (where the students voted him Most Outstanding Teacher), sold draperies at a department store (where he won a contest), and in 1971, never having seen drugs, Barry became a Special Agent with DEA in Kansas City, Missouri, working undercover much of the time. His son Lance and daughter Heather were both born in Kansas City to Barry and his first wife, Peggy. They divorced years later.

Barry adored those kids and he talked so affectionately about their times together. So many funny times and he was so proud of those two.

After eight years in DEA in Kansas City, Barry took a job in Santa Fe, NM, as the Special Agent in Charge of the Department of Interior’s Bureau of Land Management office. Three years after that Barry left the federal government and took a job in Corporate Security in Houston, Texas. After stints with two oil and gas companies, Barry became the head of global security with Baker Hughes.

One of his investigations in the corporate took him to Memphis, Tennessee, where Barry met a Shelby County Sheriff’s detective. Barry says the officer was the prettiest he had ever seen. Her name was Sherry. Sherry was assigned to the undercover narcotics unit so they obviously had a lot in common. Three years later they were married. Barry said it was no coincidence they met and that God's hand was in it. Barry also bragged about his traveling to Memphis to find her and bringing her to Texas. Barry always said the 18 years age difference was not an issue since he was so immature. Barry and Sherry would have been married for 33 years on May 8, the day of the Service.

Barry retired from corporate life in 2004. His early retirement was based in large part to free him from travel and to allow time with his wife and family. Especially with his little girl, Honor. Sherry and Barry adopted Honor from China when she was seven months old. My God, how he loved that little girl. Barry and Sherry lost Honor when she was 25. The worst day of their lives.

Barry's love for his wife Sherry, son Lance and daughter Heather was a wonderful source of strength after Honor was gone. And knowing God felt his hurt and was making sure Honor had the arms of her big Brother Jesus holding her tight comforted him. Barry knew he would see Honor again. A UTHealth organization that bears her name, Honor's HEROES, helps save lives and bring hope to those addicted to drugs. Honor and her name will never be forgotten.

Barry loved his family and he loved his friends. He loved to laugh and he loved to kid around with those he loved. If Barry was throwing the jokes and sarcasm at your expense, you knew he loved you. Many of the laughs were at Barry’s expense, because—as Barry would admit--there was a lot of material there.

In addition to sports, Barry loved motorcycles and Santa Fe. NM. Barry rode Harleys for 20 years, most of that time with his son, Lance. One memorial trip was to Sturgis. There were a lot of stories and laughs from that trip as with all the others. Sherry had a couple of Harleys during this period but Barry was glad when she agreed to sell hers. Sherry was an aggressive rider and Barry thought only one of them should have such a risky hobby.

Santa Fe was a dream for Barry and it came true thanks to Sherry recognizing how much Barry loved Santa Fe. On Sherry's first trip to Santa Fe she casually mentioned she "really liked this town". Barry found a realtor the same day and Santa Fe soon became their second home.

Barry experienced a medical emergency in 2014 while in Santa Fe and it was a miracle he survived. Barry had always loved the Lord but he often talked about how he didn’t realize what close friends they were until they spent three days together while he was unconscious in the ER. Barry wants his friends and family to make sure they know how to get to heaven. He loves them and wants to see them there. Barry wanted to pass on that Jesus makes it real clear how to do that and He even wrote the instructions in red.

If you asked Barry what he would to do first when he got to heaven, he would answer, “I would bow before Jesus and express my gratitude for God's mercy and grace and love. Then I would ask, ‘Can we go see Honor.’”

Barry was preceded in death by his cherished daughter, Honor Nicole Wallace, and his parents, Jess and Anne Wallace. Barry is survived by his loving wife, Sherry Wallace; his son Lance Wallace and his wife Lana, and their children Kendall and Chase; his daughter Heather Gunn, her husband Brandon, and their daughters Emma and Scarlett; and his sisters Judy and Carolyn. To his grandchildren — Kendall, Chase, Emma, and Scarlett — he was affectionately known as “Papa Johnny,” a name and role he cherished deeply.