Richard Sayre Barnes

Richard (Rick) Sayre Barnes, age 65 of Friendswood, TX, passed away Saturday, May 16th, 2020. He was born in Galveston, TX on August 26, 1954, to Herschel E. Barnes and Laura Sayre Barnes. He was married to the love of his life, his sweetheart, Doris Laswell for 46 years.

Rick gave his life to God as a young man and got a Bachelor’s degree in Theology at Texas Bible College, where he met Doris in 1972. They fell in love and were married in 1973. While supporting his family through college, he started as a machinist in the oil field industry. He advanced on to become an N/C programmer for 40 years. In 2000 he began contracting around the country in his RV, doing many different types of N/C programming jobs, including one in AeroSpace and one at Rock Island Arsenal.

He was a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints for 35 years. Rick and Doris were sealed for time and all eternity in the Dallas Texas temple with their children in 1989. He served in a variety of callings and positions. He loved most working with the youth. He lead the Scouting program for over ten years as a Scout Master, helping mold young boys into men.

Rick had many passions and hobbies, the longest being music. He was in the Ball High (Galveston) band and played trumpet. He continued playing trumpet throughout his life. He loved to sing and he sang in and directed many choirs. He loved learning and taught himself to play the ukulele, recorder, trombone, bass guitar, and piano. He shared his passion with others by inviting and teaching in bands and clubs of many varieties. He was in the Pearland Community Band, the San Jacinto College Jazz Band playing trumpet, the Galveston Ukelele Club, and taught ukulele at the senior center.

In the early 90’s Rick became active in SCUBA diving and became a Divemaster. His passion for diving took him to many locations. He shared his love with his family and friends, teaching anyone who wanted to learn, including his 12-year-old son Adam and wife. He took up woodworking and set up his own business, “Rick’s Pens” where he made beautiful Mont Blanc pens, custom made. He kept this hobby up for years and made many beautiful things with his woodworking skills.

He loved to travel. Any chance presented he’d jump on to go somewhere new. He loved to RV and drove it all over the country. Every new contracting job he had, he used to his advantage to travel and learn all he could in the area he was in. He and Doris visited many beautiful places both domestic and international.

He learned the Ham Radio to help the church during times of distress – primarily hurricane season. As always, he took this initial spark and lit a fire with it. He obtained the highest license as he could and used it to help out during Hurricane Ike when the phone lines were down in Galveston. He participated with the Annual Houston Air Show and also the MS 150 as a radio coordinator for several years. He loved being in the Pearland Ham Radio club and talking to people all over the world.

He was also a proud member of the Sons of the American Revolution and the Sons of the Republic of Texas. He enjoyed doing genealogy and family history. He continued his mother’s legacy of genealogy work. He was in the ROTC in High School. He became an outstanding cadet in 1972, advancing to company commander with the rank of Major. He was most definitely a “Jack of all trades” and mastered as many of them as he could.

Always willing to share his passions, he was a teacher to many. He also taught a Junior Achievement class for 5th/6th graders for many years. His children and grandchildren were his favorite pupils, they also shared in his hobbies and passions, incorporating it into their own lives. He touched everyone he came across, always willing to lead or teach.

Rick was preceded in death by his mother Laura and father Herschel. He was survived by his loving wife Doris Laswell Barnes, two children: Adam Richard Barnes and Amanda June Barnes Taysom, and 6 grandchildren: Michael, Matthew, Ryan, Isaac, Annabelle River, and Nikolai. His older brother Douglas McBee, wife Linda and their five children; his beloved aunt Norma Jean Barnes and by his dear cousins Arleta Keith and her son Doug, and Dianne McLean, her children Kimberly, Robert, Amy, Laurie, and John, and her grandchildren.

Rick never met a stranger. His voice and laugh were deep and booming.

He filled the room with his presence, his love, and his vast knowledge. In 2018 he had to retire early due to a diagnosis of cancer and fought a long, hard battle with it. We remember him in his robust health of vigor and energy. We celebrate his life and reflect on how blessed we all are from having known him.