My little brother, James Mael Barry, died in the night, early morning of this day of the Full Wolf Moon. It was not unexpected. He had contended with dreadful cancer, and several weeks ago decided to return home on hospice. All we siblings managed visits to Kansas City to tell him we loved him, and to say goodbye. His children were in attendance for much of the sad time leading up to the end. During the night, he peacefully slipped away, with Carmen, his partner of more than 20 years at his side. We sink into grief, but also remembrance.
Moon sinking in the west this morning 
Mark and Jamie on Tre Awain Little Larkspur circa 1965
Jamie was born at home in Rosyth, Scotland before the doctor arrived. The doctor checked on mother and child, then repaired downstairs with my father, Brian, for a celebratory drink, or so goes the family lore. Jamie was never any trouble. He held the distinction of never asking for help from my parents, unlike the other six of us. He was the iconic “middle child” – overlooked and ignored, neither older kid or younger kid in a family of 7 children, he became independent and self sufficient. He was our mother’s favorite, though, the sweetest child she ever had.
Jamie 
1960 – before we emigrated – Jamie a baby 
Jamie 
Jamie on the right
After a taste of college, Jamie took a summer job at Yellowstone, and never returned. Decades later, when I saw Yellowstone at last, I understood. I think that was the best part of Jamie’s life. He was known as Jamie Danger, and was famous for doing flips on cross country skis. I was very proud to have such a brother, though I doubt I ever told him that. We had a bit of the British reserve.
Jamie Danger
I must admit that I did not know Jamie as well as my brothers did. I knew him as my little brother until I moved away at 18, when he was 13. Jamie was the family comedian – his jokes were weird and inscrutable and funny anyway, because they were “Jamie Jokes”.
Christmas Caroling – Jamie on right 
Circa 1973 – Jamie on right
While at Yellowstone, Jamie married Linda Brandon on the Continental Divide, just weeks after Harry and I married here in Missouri. We couldn’t attend, because of my job as a huntsman. Then followed Luke Walker Barry, our godson, and his two sisters, Rachael Marie Barry, and Madeline Jane Barry.
After Yellowstone, Cedar Rapids 
2003
Jamie became a successful professional disc golf player, coming from behind in 2012 to win the Grandmasters Division of the Kansas City Wide Open, on home turf. I think his passion for disc golf matched my passion for horse showing, so I feel some kinship in that.
Good form! (I presume) 
A low throw 
Jamie at a disc golf hole he designed
Jamie and Carmen were partnered, though not married, living in Kansas City. Carmen is a nurse, and when these troubles reared, she stepped up to the challenge and looked after Jamie to the end. I have learned to love and respect Carmen immensely over the past difficult months. Jamie lived with her in her charming house, and was fortunate enough to die there, looking out over the back garden and woods that he had cleared and tended.
As endings go, especially during a pandemic, this was a blessing, to be at home and visited by loved ones. Our visits were sad, but valuable for all of us. Rachael, a wild land firefighter out west, flew in and spent several weeks helping with his care, and Luke, living near, was also much involved.
Jamie and Brian, both gone, together now on the other side
For the rest of us, life goes on. Today, Jane had her second cataract surgery. On the way home, I stopped briefly for a picture of the neighbor’s Missouri mule. She is old, and in a synchronicity, it looks like she has cataracts herself.
Hee Haw!
And here are a couple of bird pictures. I think Jamie would be amused at the starlings jostling for food.
My favorite little wren 
Superabundance of starlings
Godspeed, Jamie, the ordinary world goes on, while you have joined the empyreal things and are with us still.
Full Wolf Moon will be here tonight
Stay safe, stay well. Peace and love and memories.
What a beautiful tribute. So much better than any modern obituary. I never met him, but feel like I knew him after reading this. (His daughter Maddi dates my son Justin and she is a very special young woman to me )
Thank you, Melissa. Sorry you never met him, but I know he was glad that Maddi is so happy with Justin.
Beautiful Anne ❤️ I hold you in my heart and my thoughts. Jamie Danger was unique. Deo gratias.
Ah, Rachel, I love that tip of the hat to Uncle Mike. Jamie and Mike were alike in being tall, gangly, brave, and quirky. Both were much loved.
What a loving tribute to your brother, Jamie. Being a xc skier, I was amazed to hear about his ability to do flips on those skis!
Thanks, Judi – I wish I could have seen Jamie at Yellowstone on his cross country skis. The stories of his daring are legendary.
He was insane on the skis. My first winter in Yellowstone, I had my first ski lesson a few days after arriving. The very next day he took me out bushwacking. It was a disaster for me, but you could see his love and lack of fear for the outdoors on his face and in his smile the whole day.
Oh so sad, and yet uplifting. Those of us with no siblings will never know the joy (and sadness) of losing part of oneself. God speed to a very special person.
Thank you, Janis. The grass is always greener… I always thought it would be nice to be an only child, but I have grown to realize how lucky I have been, rich in brothers.
Anne, Thank you so very much for this beautiful tribute. I’m going to start reading your blogs more often. I’m glad I got to visit Jamie 2 years ago. Jamie took us to the best BBQ and we toured the National WW1 Museum. I loved the bridge there over a field of pansies and it moved me. Carmen made us amazing meals. I won’t ever forget my last visit with Jamie. I miss you Harry and all your sweet pets. Sorry for your loss. I send my love.
Oh, Cynthia, thank you. Visiting the WWI Museum is high on our list of things to do… we haven’t managed it yet. Might be our first adventure after the pandemic. Glad you got to spend time with Jamie and Carmen.
As my Irish friends would exclaim, What a lovely man!” Gentle, kind, an explorer, a humorist with weird jokes. Honestly, he sounds like my lovely brother Andy, but surrounded by a better family, dying amidst them. I would say, “Well, done, all of you. Go with God, Jamie.”
Thanks, Florence, and Jamie was very lucky. In the end, though, it’s a solitary endeavor after all. I hope that on the other side maybe Jamie and Andy are connecting. Both beloved little brothers.
A wonderful remembrance and such terrific old photos! I’m so sorry to read about this loss and promise you that you all are being held in my prayer.
Thank you, Sèan.
Anne,
What a beautiful tribute to Jamie. I will always remember him as the one with the jokes. My condolences to all of you.
Ginny
Thank you, Ginny. Not a bad way to be remembered, eh? The one with the jokes. He would love that!
Anne – that is a beautiful way to memorialize your brother Jamie Danger. I never met Jamie but having known your brother Mark since college, and your brother John for decades, I’ve heard some stories about the Barry clan. Thank God for those who go thru life in a way that makes others feel better for having been around them. Jamie was that kind of man. As the Irish say, I pray that he made it to heaven before the devil knew he was dead. RIP Jamie..
Mike K
Thank you, Mike – I have heard your name often from Mark. Jamie would definitely have enjoyed that Irish sentiment.
Thanks for that tribute, Mary. Nice photos. Brings the past closer and keeps the memories alive. My love to all the family.
Merci, Eddy.
Dear Anne,
Thank you for sharing a bit about your Jamie with us. Losing a brother, even if you are blessed with the opportunity to spend time together, to “prepare” for it, is an indescribably heartbreaking thing. He sounds like a fellow who squeezed the most fun out of every day, quick to laugh, like you are. I have a friend who says “first we are here, then we are everywhere.” I have found this a comfort, grateful for memories of my little brother whenever he shows up in my daily life. Hugs to you and Harry, best wishes to Jane for a swift recovery.
Peace
Oh, Linda – I love that “first we are here, then we are everywhere”. Your wise friend’s comment will comfort me often going forward. Thank you for sharing that. Peace – as my good, wise friend says, and shares.
A beautiful, heartfelt reflection. Thank you. I will always remember him as being Trudy’s favorite. When it thunders I will now know it is Jamie in heaven setting off firecrackers. Love you.
Oh, Deb, that is perfect!
Hi Anne, I’m so sorry to hear about Jamie’s passing. Thank you so much for the beautiful tribute. I have very fond memories of visiting Jamie in Yellowstone in ’84 on my first trip across the pond. He was completely fearless leading us intrepidly on a backpacking trip up Electric Peak as lightning flashed in the distance. I was petrified, but we made it. We overnighted and he cooked steaks, hoisting our backpacks far off the ground for the night. Another day he led us into a bear warning area, with axe in hand, me eying which tree I’d try to scamper up. Jamie was larger than life and completely in his element at Yellowstone. The following year he visited me in Paris with Linda and he cooked snails for us, he was adamant about doing that. I think the only time I’ve ever had them, they were delicious, he was an amazing chef. He truly lived life to the full. Rest in peace Jamie, dear Cousin.
Oh, Andrew, what remarkable memories you have of Jamie! One of my great regrets is that I never visited him at Yellowstone. When I finally made it out there, I was overcome, understanding at last why my brothers loved it so. Jamie never bragged about his life, but among his adventures, he went to Machu Pichu. I still have the alpaca socks he brought me from Peru. I did not know he had gone to Paris to cook snails! Thank you for adding to the color of Jamie’s memories for all of us.
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What a wonderful tribute to your brother. The way you chronicled his life makes me think that he lived fully. Thank you for all the photos of him and your family. Such a short time on earth. Rest In Peace, Jamie.
Thank you, Rebecca. Jamie lived his sixty years to the fullest.
Thanks Anne for the wonderful words about Jamie. We all will have many great memories of the whole family and visits we had there….Never a dull moment!! My love and prayers to his family and all those who touched his life.
The photos are priceless and will keep his memory alive in our hearts.
Aunt Pat
Thank you, Aunt Pat – we always loved the cousin visits!
Thanks, Aunt Pat – we always loved the cousin visits and have good memories of those times.
Anne,
What a wonderful tribute to Jamie. So true. The man was fearless. There wasn’t any place that we lived that he wasn’t into the outdoors. Always on the look for a new disc golf course, a new mountain to climb, a new creek to float. He definitely lived his life to the fullest. He passed his love of life and adventure on to Luke, Rachael and Maddi.
Love you Cocoa
Thank you, Dave.
I was a friend and colleague of Jamie’s in Yellowstone for many years. It’s nice to read he hadn’t changed one bit. In those daze of early 80’s, he would always have a cig dangling from his lips and ALWAYS remove the filter, for he once told me it would take 10,000 years for it to decompose. Always the environmentalist. He was a food production manager at the OFI and snow lodge during the winter and during breaks, he’d head to the top of the Howard Eaton, a local swift downhill run, in his kitchen whites hauling ass, laughing loudly and taking no prisoners…and cigarette dangling. Irreverent, kind, hilarious, contagious laugh and that goofy stride. RIP Jamie. You are missed!
Thank you for those colorful memories. I am stunned by what a legendary impression Jamie left. He will not be forgotten.
A very nice tribute to a legend beyond his years.
I only knew Jamie through disc golf, seeing him often at local events in KC for many years, and hearing his stories of his travels to the Saint Louis courses. He surely left his mark on everyone with his jokes and his smile.
I now see that we disc golfers were as blessed to have him, and put up with him, as his true family. He often spoke of Carmen and his kids, although I haven’t met them to date. I’m happy to know he invited Harold Berciunas to gather with him and the family in his final days.
May God Bless You All,
Duane “CD” Steiner
PDGA #2883
KCFDC #002
Independence, MO
Anne,
So so sorry to hear of your lovely brother’s passing. What a loving account of his life and spirit you have written. I read most of your friends notes, and latched on the “first you are here, then you are everywhere”. This will help sustain me as well: my brother Georges died back in mid-November, and I was not able to go to his funeral in France due to travel restrictions. He fell ill and passed away in a matter of weeks. I am thankful for the time I spent with him and his wife when I visited back in September, where we had a good visit, where Georges told his silly jokes, and I obliged and laughed (that was my contribution). We were 4 siblings, and now we are two remaining. But both Jacqueline and Georges are everywhere, as is Jamie. How comforting !
The moon pictures are hauntingly beautiful, so soulful and resonating of your sadness.
Keep well dear Anne,
Catherine
Thank
Worked with Jaime for many years at Old Faithful where he helped design the most beautiful disc golf course in the world. The Wilderness Course. During one round he stubbed his butt out on the 8th hole, the next day we played again and found the hole smoldering and just about to burst into flame. Jaime extinguished the flames using what he had at hand… Attended the US Open in La Mirada with Jaime and Doc in ’88, which I think is where Jaime really learned to throw a good roller. And in ’94 Jaime and Coco took Kathryn and I to Cyclone Stadium to see the Rolling Stones for our honeymoon. Some of my best, most irreverent jokes, I got from Jaime. A lover of life, great guy, and disc golfer extraordinaire. Keep carrying on Jaime!