Lisa Barry

Lisa Kaye Brown Barry, 54, passed away on October 20, 2021. Following a valiant fight with cancer, Lisa softly left the room filled with love and tears after her mom, Penny, soared to her side and helped her strap on invincible angel wings so she could watch over the multitudes who love her.

Lisa, born September 12, 1967, in Salt Lake City, Utah, to Douglas Blaine Brown and Penny Watkins, was a miracle baby with a strong fighting spirit. She bravely faced four open heart surgeries, the first at four months of age. While in a spinal meningitis coma at age two, another of her early trials, Lisa woke up upon hearing the voice of her father, just home from the Vietnam War. “Daddy’s here!” he had said, kissing her, and immediately her eyes had popped open. A daddy’s girl from that point on, she fondly remembered being up in a tree one day, calling out to her father, “Don’t worry, I won’t break my neck.”

Lisa had three extraordinary children with Bruce Giles: Bruce Jr. (BJ), her “little cowboy”; Mekynzie, her “dancing princess”; and Gina, her “animal-loving adventurer.” Together, the family lived in 22 places, considering Meadow, Utah, their home, where Lisa served as a volunteer EMT, a doctor’s assistant, a parent helper at school, and an active member in the LDS Church. Despite her gypsy lifestyle, many special relationships formed during these years endured.

Lisa married (March 2008) Chris Boulet, whose daughter, Nicole, instantly became another of “Lisa’s girls.” Then on November 24, 2010, they welcomed daughter Cienna Grace, Lisa’s “gift from heaven.”

In the woods of Southern California on July 20, 2019, Lisa married her husband James Barry, whose children, Heather and Tiffany, she immediately adored. In the short time they had together, James and Lisa shared what felt like a lifetime, camping, backpacking, kayaking, and living off grid.

One of Lisa’s favorite activities was planning Grandma LaLa Camp and taking her ten energetic grandchildren on special dates. She loved each one dearly: BJ and Shannon Giles’s Phoebe (2), Riggin (Oct 28 2021); Mekynzie and Jordan Jensen’s Jamisen (6), Jayzlie (5); and Jhett (2); Gina Romberger’s twins Cohen and Cruze (7) and Lockton (3); Nicole Stapelton’s daughter Jade (5); and Tiffany’s daughter Miley (3).

Over the years, Lisa opened her home to countless others eager to be around her adventurous spirit, hear her contagious laugh, play a variety of games, hold dance parties, go out for a late-night coke run, or simply feel her unconditional love. And every guest, whether staying for a day or needing a permanent home, became an important part of her life. She loved people and never let anyone feel alone or go hungry; not even a scarce pantry kept her from feeding them. She could turn any situation into a magical story with twists and turns and an ending that could not be predicted. Getting lost in stories with her was an adventure listeners never wanted to end. Lisa was also an avid and eloquent writer who composed drafts of several children’s books. A lifelong learner and fierce advocate of personal growth, she saw the good in every situation. These are the gifts of a warrior of heart and mind.

This extraordinary wife, mother, daughter, sister, grandmother, niece, cousin and friend is survived by the family members mentioned above, as well as her stepmother Debby Brown, stepfather Bill Watkins, sisters Tiffanie (John) Brownlee and Aubrey Scanlon; nieces Afton, Kambrie, Megan (Brett) Brownlee and Sarah Scanlon; great-nephew Caz; and countless other treasured family members and friends.

A gathering to celebrate Lisa’s beautiful life will be held on Saturday, November 6, 2021. Both the viewing, from 9:00 a.m.–11:00 a.m., and the funeral service, at 11:15 a.m., will be at Sky Mountain Chapel, 452 North 2600, West Hurricane, Utah.

Interment to follow at Hurricane City Cemetery, 225 E 600 N, Hurricane, Utah

The funeral service will be live streamed, click on the link below under funeral service

The family welcomes donations to Lisa Kaye’s Educational Fund in honor of her dream to nurture her children’s individual passions for learning. Contributions will be distributed equally between Bruce Jr.’s  pursuit of a bachelor’s degree in information technology, Mekynzie’s master’s degree in early education, Gina bachelor’s degree in nursing, and Cienna’s future educational path.

Checks made out to “Lisa Kaye Education Fund” can be sent to 11556 23rd Ave NE, Seattle, WA 98125. Alternatively, funds payable to lisakayeeducationfund@gmail.com can be sent via any bank account using Zelle.

If you prefer to donate to a nonprofit organization, please consider one of the two listed below, which were instrumental in Lisa’s life:

Switchpoint Community Resource Center in St. George, UT https://switchpointcrc.org/donations/givenow/

Desert Sanctuary Haley House in Barstow, CA https://www.desert-sanctuary.org/donate