On the morning of March 6th, Barry Wade Davies, Kansas City Kansas native and beloved husband, father, coach, teacher, and friend, passed peacefully in his sleep at his Louisburg home. Barry leaves behind a decades-long legacy in sports and education in KCK, a large loving family, and countless students, players, and colleagues in the community whose lives were impacted by him.
Born in 1956 to Dr. Walter “Lefty” Davies and Peggy (Chapin) Davies, Barry was a member of the first graduating class of JC Harmon High School in 1974. After attending Emporia State University on a football scholarship for one year, he transferred to Kansas City Kansas Community College to play baseball. He graduated from KCKCC in 1976, the same year the Blue Devils baseball team reached the Junior College World Series. In 1977, he attended William Jewell College before graduating from Missouri Western State University with a Bachelor of Science in Education in 1979.
Following in his father's footsteps, Barry began his 32 year career as a teacher and coach for Kansas City Kansas Public Schools at Rosedale Middle School. He taught physical education at Rosedale for eight years, coaching basketball and football there from 1979 to 1982, and baseball and football at Sumner Academy from 1982 to 1987. In 1987, he joined the staff at JC Harmon High School, where he coached football, basketball, and baseball and taught for twenty years. In 2007, he returned to teach at Rosedale, where he coached football alongside his son, Zach Davies, before his retirement in 2011.
Barry and his wife Susan (Hanenkrat) married on May 28, 1982 in Kansas City, Kansas. Susan was the mother of two girls, Erin and Molly, and the following year gave birth to his only son, Zach. In addition to his career as a teacher and coach, Barry also enjoyed umpiring, refereeing basketball, coaching baseball for recreational leagues, and taking his family on memorable summer vacations across the country. During his retirement years, he and his wife Susan traveled often. In 2013, he was inducted into the KCKCC Baseball Hall of Fame as a member of the 1976 team. In 2017, his 1977 team was inducted into the William Jewell Baseball Hall of Fame, and he was inducted into the JC Harmon Athletic Hall of Fame.
Barry is preceded in death by his parents, Dr. Walter “Lefty” Davies, and Peggy Chapin. He is survived by his brother Danny (Cathy) of Basehor and sister Geri of Shawnee, his wife of 43 years, Susan, of Louisburg, his daughters Erin (Chris) of Gardner, and Molly of Lawrence, and his son, Zach (Emily), of Shawnee. He also leaves behind six adoring grandchildren: Aidan, Nathan, Olivia, Vincent, Hadley, and Paxton; one great-grandson, Atticus; and many nieces and nephews.
A visitation for Barry is scheduled from 5:00 pm to 7:00 pm on Wednesday, March 11th at Porter’s Funeral Home in Lenexa. Funeral service will be held at the same location at 11:00 am on Thursday, March 12th, followed by a brief graveside service at Chapel Hill Cemetery at 94th and State Avenue in Kansas City, Kansas.
Those wishing to make donations in Barry's memory are encouraged to donate to the charity of their choice.