Barry Lynn Puryear's Obituary
Our family is deeply saddened to share that Barry Lynn Puryear passed away on Wednesday, November 26, 2025, at his home surrounded by family and a hospice nurse. Barry has bravely fought bladder cancer for the past two years with grace and dignity.
Barry was born on June 20, 1957, in Houston, Texas, to David and Carolyn Puryear. He grew up in Texas, California, and Oklahoma. He received his Bachelor’s Degree and his Master’s Degree in Computer Science from the University of Tulsa. He was an amazing professional with Information Technology. He started by learning Fortran and then continued to learn many computer languages. As an IT professional, Barry was employed at Amoco, BP Amoco, PricewaterhouseCoopers, Tulsa Community College and Tinker Federal Credit Union.
He dearly loved his grandfather, Reverend Curtis Puryear, and his grandmother, Alean Puryear. He attended many activities and services that his grandfather presided over. They loved to read the comics, especially Peanuts, on Sundays. His grandmother, Alean, was a kind, caring woman and a wonderful cook. Reverend Curtis’ second wife, Vadys, was kind and caring. He loved his aunts and uncles—Uncle Odell, Uncle Harold, Aunt Alene, Uncle Walen and Aunt Linda.
Barry loved volunteering with the Boy Scouts of America. He served as a Scoutmaster for Troop 16 in Tulsa. He taught merit badge classes and served on many committees including Troop 16, Troop 153 and the district. He loved participating with the activities for Shooting Sports.
Barry received many honors including the Silver Beaver Award, 2013 Eagle District Unit Commissioner of the Year, and 2013 District Award of Merit. He participated in activities with the Order of the Arrow, reaching the rank of Vigil. Our son, Sam, said that he learned to be a leader from his Dad. Sam served as Senior Patrol Leader twice with Troop 16.
Among many other things Barry was passionate about eclectic music and comedy. He enjoyed taking music lessons with Wendy Songe. Barry learned to play guitar, ukelele, mountain dulcimer and Native American Flute. As a member of the Tulsa Ski Club, he attended many trips and volunteered as editor of the “Lift Line Newsletter.”
Barry is survived by his wife, Becky, of Broken Arrow; his son, Sam, and his wife, Syd, of Tulsa; his mother, Carolyn Puryear, of Broken Arrow; his brother, Blake, his wife, Sharolyn, their children, Cole and Gage, of Broken Arrow; his cousin, Debbie Nelson, of Longview, Texas; his brother-in-law, Tom Weeks, his wife Michelle, their children, Cassondra and Sonja, of Round Rock, Texas; cousin George Johnson of Kennewick, Washington. He had dear friends, Stan Dennis of Tulsa and Wendy Songe of Wagoner.
Barry is preceded in death by his grandparents, Reverend Curtis Puryear and his wives Alean and Vadys, Otho and Ethel Wright; his father, David; his uncles and aunts—Odell Wilson, Harold and Alene Beasley, Walen and Linda Wright, and many relatives.
The celebration for the life of Barry Puryear will occur on Saturday, December 6, 2025, at two o’clock in the afternoon at the Rose Chapel, Boston Avenue Methodist Church, 1301 South Boston Avenue, Tulsa, Oklahoma.
In lieu of flowers, a donation can be made to the American Cancer Society (https://www.cancer.org/), Tulsa Walk to End Alzheimer’s, Tulsa Alzheimer’s Association (6660 S. Sheridan Rd. Suite 202, Tulsa, OK 74133), Shooting Sports with Indian Nations Council of Scouting America formerly Boy Scouts of America (4295 S Garnett Rd, Tulsa, OK 74146), Boston Avenue Methodist Church (1301 S. Boston Ave., Tulsa, OK 74119).
Barry will be deeply missed by all who knew and loved him.
Our family would like to express our appreciation to the doctors, nurses, occupational therapists, physical therapists, hospice nurses and hospice aides who helped him.
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