Barry was born on September 13, 1960, in Houma, Louisiana, the third of five siblings and the eldest son of Agnes and Lee (Pop) Usie. At age four, his family moved to Anchorage, Alaska, where he lived the majority of his life until the age of 30, when he officially moved to the Shreveport, Louisiana area.
He began his family and had three children, who he gave so much of his life to. As his grandchildren began to be born, they also captivated his heart. His grandchildren called him Grandpa, and he was proud to be theirs. His greatest accomplishment would no doubt be his kids and grandkids and the joy he shared when they were together.
Barry was a full-on builder and carpenter with a true gift from God to create and innovate a space. He began his business, U-Say Quality Carpentry, in 2005 after working at General Electric for many years and Spenard Builders Supply in Alaska before that. From building his own family’s home to remodeling the homes of many families, he crafted spaces that could be filled with laughter for years to come. His dedication to doing things well and right was something that made his work special and trustworthy.
You could always count on him to fix whatever you needed or offer his strength for a project. He was a man’s man. Throughout his life, he went out of his way to make sure family, friends, neighbors, and even strangers were taken care of. He was strong and independent, and he had a heart to use what God had given him to help others.
He was also a goofy guy, full of funny faces and a deep belly laugh that filled the room. His voice was boisterous and could be heard across the room in any setting. His presence was hard to miss, and his laughter was even harder to forget.
He loved the outdoors, both for nature and for adventure; something he knew was a part of God’s gift to us. He enjoyed many activities over his life and would fully invest himself in each one, from boxing, karate, and ice hockey to camping, fishing, and hunting to motocross, ATVs, boats, and motorcycles. When he was in the mountains, he enjoyed skiing and snowmobiling. He knew how to have a good time outside and to do it with those he loved.
Some may not know this, but he really loved to sing and would always laugh as he made up silly songs on the spot or even worship-filled ones. Most mornings, he enjoyed a cup of Folgers coffee, no cream or sugar, just black.
Something truly special is how he would joyously share about how he met the Lord during a short time in jail while reading the book They Called Me the Catch Me Killer by Bob Erler. He gave his life to Jesus Christ at 26 years old. He always shared how, when he met Jesus, colors looked different and the world was a different, more beautiful place. He was truly transformed by God’s love.
He would often sing the lyrics he wrote during that time:
“There’s a feeling in my heart
I finally figured out.
That Jesus has been telling me
That I never should’ve been without.”
In his later years, Barry enjoyed his property in East Texas where he could watch the deer and continually beautify it, always coming up with the biggest plans and a heart to bless others with his talents and life.
Barry is survived by his three children: Jordan Elizabeth and husband Ashlae Ortiz; Cody Daniel and wife Chloe Lively; and John Wesley Usie. Their mother is Kimberly Keeth Usie, Barry’s former wife.
He is also survived by his grandchildren: Ezra and Archer, Cody’s stepchildren; and Prosper and Torvi, Cody and Chloe’s children.
Barry is also survived by his siblings: Roslyn McCumpsey and her husband, Robert McCumpsey Sr.; Amy Snider; John Usie and wife Jaime Usie; and Wesley Usie and wife Tammy Usie.
His nieces and nephews include Robert McCumpsey Jr. and Aaron McCumpsey, children of Roslyn; Jeff Snider, Jenny Arnette, Jeremy Snider, children of Amy; Zachary Usie, BreeAnn Usie, Kinzlee Usie, and EmmaLea Usie, children of John; Whitney Miller, Joey Usie, and Ryan Usie, children of Wesley; and his nephews Matthew Bennett, Brandon Lomas, and Brook Berg, who were part of his family through Kimberly’s side of the family.
Barry was also loved by the many children and grandchildren of his nieces and nephews, who were part of the family he loved and ate crawfish with.
He was preceded in death by his father, Lee Joseph Usie, and his mother, Agnes Elizabeth Butt Usie.
Visitation will be held at 4:00 PM on September 22, 2026, at Centuries Memorial Funeral Home, 8801 Mansfield Road, Shreveport, Louisiana 71108. Funeral services will follow at the funeral home at 5:30 PM and will be officiated by his son-in-law, Ashlae Ortiz.
Flowers may be sent to Centuries Memorial Funeral Home, 8801 Mansfield Road, Shreveport, Louisiana 71108. His favorite color was blue.
Honorary pallbearers are Wesley Usie, John Usie, Cody Usie, John Wesley Usie, Archer Fivash, and Prosper Usie.
Barry leaves behind a legacy of strength, adventure, laughter, and love for his family, but above all, a faith in Jesus Christ that gave him his strength and hope.
