Barry W. Jenkins

Barry W. Jenkins, 83, of Colebrook, died at the Weeks Medical Center in Lancaster, N.H., on Saturday morning, May 17, 2025, with his wife at his side and after a long period of declining health.

He was born in West Burke, Vt., on May 24, 1941, son of the late Ralph and Miriam (Hooper) Jenkins. In 1946, his family moved to Colebrook where his parents owned and operated the Jenkins Funeral Home. Barry attended school in Colebrook and was a 1959 graduate of Colebrook Academy. After graduation he went to work for the U.S. Postal Service in Colebrook for a year before enlisting in the U.S. Army where he served from 1960-63. He then attended Couer d’Alene Junior College in Idaho for a year and later worked for the Washington Water Power Co. in Spokane. He lived there for 5 years before returning to Colebrook in 1969.

Upon his return, Barry attended the American Academy McAllister Institute of Funeral Service in New York City and graduated in 1970; he then became a licensed funeral director and embalmer in New Hampshire and purchased Jenkins Funeral Home in 1971 from his mother, operating it until 1999 when it was purchased by Jeff Jacoby. Barry continued to assist in the funeral business for several more years.

Barry was a very sports-minded person, playing basketball, baseball, soccer, skiing, and bowling in his younger years. He later became a certified swimming instructor for the American Red Cross and taught swimming to the children in the town until the pool closed and the program was discontinued. He became an ardent fly-fisherman and enjoyed fishing all the back ponds and lakes in the Pittsburg area until logging affected the area roads and fishing for native trout became lost. He played a lot of softball in the Canaan and Lancaster areas for many years until age caught up with him. He also started to play golf and became a “golf nut,” playing every day in the summer, as the course was only a minute away from home. During the winter months he ran a golf clinic for the kids in Colebrook at the school gym, and worked with them in the summer on the course. Barry played in the North Country Golf League every Wednesday for many years. He was also an avid candlepin bowler, playing for many years in the local men’s league and later in the Canaan men’s league. In the fall of each year, he hunted partridge with a passion in the Sim’s Hill area of Lemington, and in November he enjoyed hunting deer with his twin brother, his two older brothers and all the nephews up on Sim’s Hill.

He was a member and Past Master of Evening Star Lodge #37, F&AM, of Colebrook, an active member of the Colebrook Country Club, and he served as the Home Service Officer for the American Red Cross in the Colebrook and surrounding areas during the Vietnam conflict. Barry was also a member of the Trinity United Methodist Church.

Barry leaves behind his wife of 49 years, Beverly (Haynes) Jenkins of Colebrook; his son, Dennis Couture and wife Pamela of Old Orchard Beach; his twin brother, Brian H. Jenkins of Winthrop, ME.; 2 granddaughters; one grandson; five great-grandchildren; as well as many nieces and nephews.

He is predeceased by two daughters, Shannon M. Jenkins and Cynthia M. Jenkins; and four brothers, Terrence Jenkins, Richard Frizzell, Donald Frizzell, and Burton ‘Buster’ Frizzell.

Calling hours will be on Saturday, May 24, 2025, Barry’s 84th birthday, from Noon to 2 p.m. at the Jenkins & Newman Funeral Home in Colebrook. A Masonic funeral rite will immediately precede at 11:45 a.m. A funeral service will follow the calling hours at 2 p.m. in the funeral home.

Expressions of sympathy in memory of Barry may be made to the Colebrook Kiwanis Club, for the benefit of local youth programs, c/o P.O. Box 241, Colebrook, NH 03576.

Condolences may be offered to the family on-line by going to www.jenkinsnewman.com.

Arrangements are entrusted to the care of Jenkins & Newman Funeral Home in Colebrook.