Barry A. Wright

Barry A. Wright, age 63, of Fort Collins, Colorado, passed peacefully on July 3, 2025, surrounded by love, leaving behind a legacy of kindness, strength, and deep devotion to his family. Barry was the ultimate warrior—strong, loving, and endlessly loyal. He faced every challenge, especially his final battle with cancer, with unwavering courage. Barry's heart remained strong, both physically and emotionally, until the very end. Barry was born in Fairbanks, Alaska, where his father had followed his older brothers from North Dakota to help build roads for the Alaska pipeline. In 1966, the family returned home to Valley City, North Dakota, where Barry spent the rest of his childhood. He lived an active and engaged youth, involved with Epworth United Methodist Church in Valley City and participating in the local Boy Scout Troop. Growing up, he worked at his father’s business, Smith Lumber, and spent time helping his parents care for their horses and supporting Riding Club events. Barry also had a great love for sports, playing football for the Valley City Hi-Liners, and was actively involved in his high school’s Distributive Education Clubs of America (DECA) program and student council. Barry married his soulmate, Amy, in 1986. Together, they worked multiple jobs while attending college at Minnesota State University - Moorhead. Barry began his career in media, first as a news cameraman and later as a promotions and ad copywriter at the local NBC affiliate in Fargo, North Dakota. After graduation, Barry and Amy moved to St. Louis, Missouri, where Amy took a civilian position with the Army. Barry pivoted to retail management before ultimately finding his true niche in information technology. At the age of 29, Barry enlisted in the Missouri Air National Guard, completing his basic training in San Antonio, Texas, followed by technical training in Biloxi, Mississippi. He served with the 131st Fighter Wing in St. Louis, Missouri, where he was deployed during the Great Flood of 1993 to support critical flood relief efforts. After moving to Colorado in 1995, he transferred to the Colorado Air National Guard and completed a short tour in Kuwait. During his service at Al Jaber Air Base in Kuwait, he was assigned to the 4406th Wing (Provisional) in support of “Operation Guarded Skies” and was awarded the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal for his outstanding service. Moving to Colorado marked a turning point in his life, opening the door to a long and fulfilling career with Sun Microsystems, which later became part of Oracle. Barry shared an unbreakable bond with his wife, Amy, and their daughter, Hannah. As a family, they were deeply connected, filling their days with laughter, love, and constant support for one another. From traveling adventures to coaching Hannah’s soccer teams, cheering her on at cross country and swim meets, or simply enjoying life’s everyday moments, Barry treasured every minute spent with his girls. He had a profound love for the outdoors. Camping, hiking, fishing, and especially riding his motorcycle which brought him immense peace. Nothing matched the sense of freedom he felt when he was out on the open road. Barry was preceded in death by his parents, Don and Sharon Wright, and several aunts and uncles. He is survived by his wife, Amy; daughter, Hannah; Father and Mother-in-law, Paul and Kay Knox; sister, Crystal (Dwight) Van Ocker; brother, Dana (Rita) Wright; sister, Iris (Ross) Rafferty; brother, Brett (Sandra) Wright; sister-in-law, Mary (Keith) Ray; brothers-in-law, Paul (Stacey) Knox and Pete (Gwen) Knox; and many nieces, nephews, great-nieces, great-nephews and cousins. A memorial service for Barry will be held on Saturday, August 9, 2025, 1:00 PM at First United Methodist Church, 1005 Stover Street, Fort Collins, Colorado, 80524. All who knew and loved Barry are welcome to attend and celebrate his life with us. In lieu of flowers, the family kindly requests that memorial contributions be made to the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network (https://pancan.org) or Pathway’s Hospice (https://pathways-care.org/give-now/). A gathering for close friends and family will be held later. Barry’s family takes comfort in knowing that he is now riding free, with the wind at his back and the open road ahead. May we all carry forward his love for adventure, his strength, and his unwavering kindness as we continue our own journeys.