Barry Lynn McKuin

Barry Lynn McKuin age 80, of Morrilton, Arkansas, concluded his years-long battle with Alzheimer’s disease on February 18, 2025. He was born December 23, 1944, in San Diego, California, where his parents had moved to help build aircraft (Bernice) and ships (Jake) during WWII. Following the war the family returned to the western Conway County community of Kenwood. Barry attended a one-room schoolhouse in nearby Blackwell with his older brother, Bob, for his grade school education before transferring to Morrilton in the 7th grade. After graduating from Morrilton High School in 1962, Barry attended the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville. There he developed leadership skills within Army ROTC, cultivated lifelong friendships at the Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity, and honed his affinity for numbers in the business school. Upon graduation in 1966 Barry moved to Little Rock and joined the accounting firm of Ernst and Ernst (now Ernst and Young). Barry and Phyllis married in 1967 prior to his reporting for military service. They made their first home at Fort Benning, Georgia. After departing the Army as a First Lieutenant Barry returned to Little Rock where he continued accounting work with Ernst and Ernst. Barry joined Winrock Farms in 1973 and moved his young family to Petit Jean Mountain for an idyllic few years in the woods. He continued working with the Rockefeller family on Petit Jean and in Little Rock for 20 years. In 1995, Barry became the Executive Director of the Morrilton Area Chamber of Commerce and the Conway County Economic Development Corporation where he served for ten years. Throughout his career Barry served on numerous boards of directors, including the First National Bank of Conway County and other community banks, the Arkansas Basin Association, Shelter Insurance, and the Winthrop Rockefeller Institute. He was also involved with the Rotary Club, the First United Methodist Church of Morrilton, and Conway County Vision 2020. Barry’s work with many of these organizations tapped into his care and interest in helping his community thrive. Barry is survived by his wife, Phyllis Scroggin McKuin of Morrilton; children, John McKuin of Morrilton/Fayetteville, Laura (Jake) Puryear of Washington, DC, and Tim (Vanessa) McKuin of Canehill, Arkansas; grandchildren, Regan Puryear, Jane Puryear, Meredith Puryear, Anna Puryear, and Silas McKuin; brother, Bob (Mary Ann) McKuin of Little Rock; uncle, Dean (Pat) Roach of Morrilton; and cousin and hunting partner, Larry (Traci) Newberry of Morrilton. Barry was preceded in death by his father, Robert Jake McKuin (1965), mother, Bernice Roach McKuin Lindley (2016), step-father, Marion Lindley (1979), and a host of English Pointers and English Setters over many years commonly referred to as “Barry’s birddogs”: Hattie, Ruff, Luke, Lacy, Jimbo, Rex, Candy, Lynn (fostered from brother Bob), Sugg, Bertha, Tatanka, Poncho, Bud, Jill, Jane, Sugg II, and Blue Belle. The family would like to recognize the efforts and care given by Lynette Fuller during his last year at home and the entire staff of Perry County Nursing and Rehabilitation Center during the year that followed. A memorial service will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Saturday, March 1, at the Morrilton First United Methodist Church, 201 S Chestnut, with visitation to follow. In remembrance of Barry’s life and the causes important to him, the family asks that any charitable donations be made to the Winthrop Rockefeller Institute, the University of Arkansas Community College at Morrilton, or Morrilton First United Methodist Church.

Barry Lynn McKuin

December 23, 1944 - February 18, 2025