Michael James Barry

     Michael James Barry passed away on June 15, 2025, in Annapolis, Maryland, at the age of 67. Born in 1957 in Washington DC, he was raised in Berwyn Heights and Bowie, Maryland. Mike enlisted in the Navy Seabees in 1976 and served five years in the States and overseas in Rota, Spain, and Diego Garcia in the Indian Ocean. He and Sandi married in 1977 and welcomed children Jackie and David. They settled in Denton in 1985 and enjoyed 40 years of raising the kids, adding Rachel and Sam to the family, and becoming grandparents to the very perfect Mollie, Mikey, Marcie and Hannah.

     Mike spent half of his career driving a tractor trailer, first as an independent traveling the country, and then for Allen Family Foods, driving the East Coast. The second half of his career was spent with his beloved work family at Choptank Transport in Preston where he eventually became Director of Logistics.

     Mike had a deep affection for Ledo’s Pizza, Waffle House, fishing, anything with a motor and wheels, and Seabee nostalgia. He had an aversion to rust, dirty vehicles, green vegetables and mean people. He loved a good road trip and was a fan of the beach and the mountains equally. He was owned by whatever dog was living in the house at the time, most recently his emotional support dog Louie.

     Mike was well known for his kindness, loyalty, easy-going nature, and strong work ethic. He was most famous for his sense of humor and had the ability to break a room up with a well-timed comment, expression or gesture. He was the best storyteller at any table but could not tell a joke to save his life.

     His lifelong passion was first and foremost his family, followed by his friends. He set out with Sandi in 1977 to create the family he dreamed about as a child and as a result passed peacefully with them all at his bedside, telling Dad stories and laughing until they cried.

     Mike is survived by his wife Sandi, daughter Jackie and her family Sam, Mikey and Hannah Weisman, and son David and his family Rachel, Mollie and Marcie Barry. He is also mourned by his brother-in-law Ken Smart, sisters-in-law Cathy Biess and Linda Smart, niece Bonnie Biess, and nephew Bob Linkins and his family, and countless friends and family members.

     In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Maryland Food Bank.

     A viewing is on Thursday, June 19 from 5-7:00 pm at Moore’s Funeral Home in Denton, followed by the funeral service on Friday, June 20 at 10:45 am. Commitment and Military Funeral Honor Guard at Maryland Veterans Cemetery in Hurlock will follow at noon. Friends and family are invited to gather for a reception immediately following the Commitment ceremony at 1:00 at the Market Street Public House in Denton.

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