Obituary: Douglas Barry Stone

Douglas Barry Stone was born February 2, 1938, in Portales, NM to Douglas Beasley and Dona Locke Stone.

Barry passed into Eternal Glory on May 21, 2024, with his characteristic courage, dignity, and grace.

Barry had a highly successful Law Practice, was a Rancher and ultimately a Banker.

Barry was a notable Scholar, Orator and Athlete extraordinaire his entire Public High School career. He graduated in 1956 from Portales High School, where he had set and then held the State of New Mexico high jump record for over 25 years, was Student Council President, an All-State Basketball player, and Track Star. Barry was elected to Boy's State and Boy's Nation, where he held council with President Dwight D. Eisenhower. Barry was a life-long Boy Scout, Eagle Scout and was awarded the distinguished Silver Beaver Award.

Barry went on to the great University of Texas on a basketball scholarship, where he received both his Bachelor's Degree and his Juris Doctorate. He was a member and Officer of the Phi gamma Delta Fraternity, and a founding member of the Figi Lake Club.

In 1962, Barry was recruited directly out of Law School by the Underwood Law Firm, Amarillo, TX. He went on to enjoy over three decades of tenure with the Underwood Firm, where he became Chief Council to American Quarter Horse Association (3 decades), Amarillo National Bank (a decade) as well as numerous high-profile Country Western Stars and notable Texas celebrities. Barry's exemplary, elite standards of professional ethics, aptitude, appetite, and command of the UCCs and Contract Law had him in high, corporate demand and held him in the highest esteem by his peers. Barry was a member of both the Texas (1963 - 2024) and New Mexico (2004 - 2024) State Bar Associations. Barry loved the practice of Law and did so with intellectual prowess and the heart of a fierce competitor.

In the late 1990's Barry left the Underwood Firm to partner with friend, Bob Smith. Together they founded the Firm of Smith and Stone, or as they were more commonly known to their Legal adversaries, Smith, and Wesson.

Barry's Heaven on Earth was his Ranch in Clarendon, TX, on which he grew Registered Quarter Horses, Black Angus Cattle, and miles and miles of breathtaking Blue Bonnets. Barry stocked his natural lakes with catfish strictly for the sake of fun, sportsmanship, fellowship, comradery, and competition among his close-knit group of Texan buddies. Barry was a highly skilled Horseman, Sportsman, award-winning Marksman, Fisherman, avid Outdoors man and esteemed Historian.

In 2004, Barry retired from his Law Practice in Amarillo to come to Roswell to open a local branch of his Grandfather's legacy bank, became Chairman of the Board, private council and free lawyer to family and few close friends. Barry was a proud man, but a man of great humility, as he would distinctly articulate to all new friends, "Don't be too impressed with me ~ if it weren't for Granddad, we would all be driving beer trucks."

Barry served decades as a Boy Scout Leader, Boy Scouts of America Board member, Trustee and Foundation Chair. He served as Chairman of the Board and subsequent Trustee of the Panhandle Plains Museum in Amarillo, TX, President of the Pan Handle Plains Historical Society, as well as The Westerners Historical Society. After coming to Roswell, Barry served as Board Officer and Trustee of the UFO Museum. Barry was a member of the Roswell Rotary Club and the recipient of the distinguished Paul Harris Fellow Award.

During his many years in Amarillo, Barry coached both Boys' and Girls' Basketball and Track. Coach Stone was in high demand among all parents and players. He was zero-tolerance, strict, professional, highly proprietary, and protective of "his kids", and immediately earned the life-time love, admiration, loyalty, and respect of each and every one. Barry was a Civic Leader having served on numerous City of Amarillo, Southern Potter and Randall County Committees, Councils and Commissions.

On June 6, 1960, Barry married the first love of his life, Linda D'Arcy in Stephenville, TX, who precedes him in death. Barry and Linda went on to enjoy 47 wonderful years together. Barry is survived by his two children: son Douglas, Jr. (Laurie) and daughter Deanna (Brewster) and three grandchildren, Derek, Lauren and Highland, and his brother and sister-in-law, David L. and Gracy Stone .

In April of 2009, Barry found the second love of his life, Connie. They were married on March 9, 2020, at which time he joyfully inherited his "Beautiful Rays of Sunshine", Step-daughters Alexandre Hughes Harrell and Whitney Elizabeth Harrell, Mother-In-Law, Bonnie Grassie and special friend, Alisa McCord.

D. Barry Stone was a life-time member of the First United Methodist Church. He was a man of great stature who exuded strength honor, dignity, fairness, truth, and honesty. Barry had a brilliant mind and sensibilities beyond compare. He life, loves, legacy and lineage were his dedicated purpose and his devout passion.

Barry and Connie want to express their tremendous gratitude for "The Elite Team Bear" for their loyalty, devotion, compassion and their tender, tireless care during this time. Heart-felt thank you to Brian Roach for his years of friendship and devotion, Jimmy Serna for his tireless loyalty, council and mentorship, Logan Himanga, Gary Dutchover, Anthony Pineda, Martha Leyba, Cindy Carlos, Kara, Yvonne, and Tori. You have all earned many, many stars in your crowns.

Services will be held Wednesday, May 29, 2024, at 10:00AM, at First United Methodist Church, 200 North Pennsylvania Avenue, Roswell, NM, with a Celebration of Barry's Life to follow at the Museum of Contemporary Art, 409 East College Blvd. from 12:00Noon to 2:00PM. On Thursday, May 30, 2024, Barry's entourage will head to Miami, TX, with a quick stop at the Portales, NM Cemetery. Miami, TX shall be Barry's final resting place alongside Grandmother, GaGa Locke, Mother Dona, Wife Linda, and infant Grandson, Stone Waddell. Graveside Services will be held that afternoon at 2:00PM Central Time at the Miami, TX Cemetery. The Miami, TX Graveside Service is under the direction of St. Paul Methodist Church, Amarillo, TX.

Pallbearers are Kenneth Berry, Gordon Patton, Bob McCrea, Dale Ek, Maj. Gen. Jerry Grizzle, Jack Swickard, James D'Agostino, Brian Roach, Casey Conally, Jesse Eckel,

and Adam Roe.

Honorary Pallbearers are Bill Brewer (Dallas, TX), Bob Smith (Amarillo, TX), Billy Fred Jones (Amarillo, TX (posthumous), Jim Besselman (Amarillo), Charles Good (Elida, NM), Steve Henderson (Roswell, NM), Archie Echols (Lubbock, TX) and David L. Stone (Portales, NM).

Arrangement have been entrusted to Ballard Funeral Home and Crematory. An online registry can be accessed at http://www.ballardfuneralhome.com.