Barry David Bowers

Born in Kingston ON March 29,1946 Barry spent his childhood years in Picton ON. where he enjoyed lots of time on his uncle’s farm developing his love for animals, gardening and the great outdoors. In 1960 his Dad was transferred to Ottawa where Barry attended Ridgemont HS, Carleton University, and Ottawa Teachers’ College, where he met his wife, Wendy. After their marriage in 1967, Barry and Wendy taught in native communities in northern Ontario with the ON Dept of  Education’s Northern Corps,  moving to Muskoka in 1971 to raise their growing family. He earned his B.A. , M.A. and M.Ed degrees through Ottawa, Laurentian, Trent and Southwestern Oklahoma State universities, taking courses throughout his teaching career, which took him to several Muskoka schools and, for a time, to the board office in Bracebridge as Co-ordinator of Student Services. He retired in 1999 and he and Wendy embarked on 11 winters of travelling with their 5th wheel, meeting new friends along the way as they discovered our amazing, scenic Canada, the southern US and Mexico.  Over the past 10 years they enjoyed vacations to Newfoundland, Ireland and Alaska, making new memories, but always appreciating coming home to Huntsville....to family and friends, and to the unique beauty that is Muskoka. In recent years, Barry has greatly enjoyed volunteering as a porter with the Huntsville Hospital Auxiliary.

“A hundred years from now, it won’t matter what my bank account was,

what kind of car I drove, or what sort of house I lived in.

But the world may be a little better place because I was important in the life of a child.”

Barry was proud and privileged to have had the opportunity to make a difference in the lives of many children over his 32 years in education, and as a proud Dad of 3.
He is survived by his wife of 52 years, Wendy, daughter Karyn, son Britt (Nicole), his sister Janice (Mike) and their family, and aunts, uncles and cousins. He was preceded in death by a son, Brad and by his parents Sherman and Orpha, and second Mom, Ethel. At Barry’s request, there will be no funeral, and cremation has taken place.
A celebration of his life will take place on Saturday, Nov.16 at the Royal Canadian Legion , Veteran’s Way, in Huntsville, between 1 and 3 pm.
If desired, memorial donations to Algonquin Grace Huntsville Hospice, or to the Huntsville Hospital Auxiliary would be greatly appreciated by his family.

Death leaves a heartache that no one can heal
            But Love  leaves a memory that no one can steal.

...from a headstone in Ireland