Howard “Barry” Wiley

It is with great sadness that the family of Barry Wiley announces his passing.

Howard “Barry” Wiley, age 78, passed away suddenly at his home in Gonzales on the evening of May 20^th, 2022.  Barry was born on August 21st, 1943, in Stockton Heath, Cheshire, England, to William Loyd Wiley and Joan (Litherland) Wiley McReynolds.  Shortly after his birth, Barry and his mother traveled from England to the United States on the Queen Mary, while his father continued serving in the US Navy during WWII.  Upon his father’s return to the US, the family settled near relatives in Gonzales, TX.  Barry married his high school sweetheart, Carol Ann Braune, on July 31^st, 1965, and together they made a life in Gonzales. Barry was a member of the US Army reserves and proudly served in the Army National Guard of Texas.  He was awarded the badge of sharpshooter for his rifle skills. He was a member of the First Evangelical Lutheran Church, the Gonzales Elks Lodge, and the National Rifle Association.

As a young boy, Barry enjoyed the outdoors and hunting with his dog. They would set out into the woods to see what they could find, often times a squirrel or some other poor critter.  Growing up in Gonzales, Barry attended Gonzales schools and graduated from Gonzales High School with the class of 1961.  During his high school years, he became interested in the sport of rodeo.  He competed in both steer wrestling and saddle bronc riding, traveling to many events and competitions throughout the State of Texas. His participation in the sport of rodeo ended only after an injury that left him temporarily paralyzed. While physicians gave a bleak outlook, Barry defied the odds and with hard work was able to heal and walk again.

Barry built his career around sales, having first worked for Moorman Feed and earning an advanced level in the Feedmanship Program.  While he made a brief career change going to work for Halliburton, his desire to be in sales ultimately led him to become and Independent Salesman representing a number of machining businesses in the South and East Texas areas.  He traveled many miles over his almost 40 years in his career, opened his own machining company in Victoria, Tx, during that time, and finally retired in 2015.  

While Barry continued to enjoy hunting over the years, traveling many places for that trophy elk, bear, or other animal, his passion was fishing.  He was drawn to the river and specifically the Guadalupe River. Some might say fishing was his life…he loved everything about it. He considered it the only sport really worth doing and looked forward to gathering his friends together for a weekend of fishing and a big fish fry. He prided himself on his knowledge of the Guadalupe and his fishing abilities. He referred to himself as the greatest fisherman and loved to remind his fellow fishing buddies of that title. He taught many, young and old, about the river and the skill of fishing.  As the years passed and it became a little harder to get up and down those river banks, he still found pleasure in spending time on the river, cooking, joking, and enjoying time with his fishing buddies.

Barry took great pride in his family. He loved Carol, his wife of 56 years, and his daughter, Kimberly, and had an especially close relationship with his son-in-law, Trent. He loved having a son…he only wished he was a little better at fishing.  His love for them could only be matched by the love and joy his granddaughter, Ryann, brought to his life. He was Barry or daddy to his family, but he was Grumps to her. Grumps was the first name Ryann really took to…probably because it matched him perfectly. Ryann saw through the name she called him though and had a special bond with her Grumps. We traveled as a family to many places over the years and saw the amazing beauty our country has to offer, but there was one thing we always found time for on our adventures…fishing!  When we weren’t on a trip somewhere as a family, we spent time together at home in Gonzales. Barry (Grumps) enjoyed cooking and showing off his garden and other projects he had been busy with. He taught Ryann to feed the fish in the pond, the birds, the herd of deer that would come to the house every day for corn, and the family of fox that returned each evening and sat patiently for a snack. Barry loved watching Ryann in her school activities, attending Grandparent’s Day, dance performances, and basketball games, and was especially proud of her academics and talent as a young artist. Barry (daddy and Grumps) was the big, loud voice in our family and would do anything for us, even if he grumbled while doing it. His presence will be greatly missed.   

Barry is survived by his wife, Carol Ann Wiley of Gonzales; daughter, Kimberly Janeen Tabor, and son-in-law, Trent Weldon Tabor; one granddaughter, Ryann Noelle Tabor; brother-in-law, Frank Thomas and wife Beverly; step-brothers, John McReynolds, Patrick McReynolds, and Michael McReynolds, and step-sisters, Carolyn B. Ecker and Ruth A. McReynolds; nephews, Frank Lincoln Thomas and Keith Thomas; and many dear friends, fishing partners, and morning coffee/tea and breakfast buddies that he enjoyed seeing each day.

His passing was preceded by his parents; step-father, Earl Edwin McReynolds, and sister, Linda Sue Thomas.  

A visitation will be held on Tuesday, May 31^st, 2022, at the Seydler-Hill Funeral Home in Gonzales, TX. The family will hold a private celebration of life at a later date. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the First Evangelical Lutheran Church of Gonzales, or the charity of one’s choosing. Friends may leave their condolences to the family by visiting www.seydlerhillfuneralcom. Services are under the care and direction of Seydler-Hill Funeral Home.