Barry Brian Findley

Barry Brian Findley, 77 years old, passed from this life to the next on January 30, 2013. His beloved wife of 59 years and their five children were by his side. He was a man deeply devoted to his faith, his family, and his profession. His enthusiasm for life, and adventure, along with his spirit for service to the community made him a man of fine character and great strength. Born in Little Rock on December 12, 1935 he was the son of Willis Winn and Bessie Twila Pearce Findley. He was the youngest of their five children. He attended Our Lady of Holy Souls School and Catholic High School where he was an outstanding member of the class of 1953. He was a starting member and right halfback of the Rocket football team and associate editor of The Cicerone newspaper as well as yearbook editor. He went on to study accounting at Lasalle University and Louisiana State University. He is survived by his devoted wife Betty Jeanne Weber Findley and his children: Sharon Findley Dillard (Jim) Richmond, Va., Barry Brian Findley II (Kathy) Little Rock, Ark., Deborah Findley Stewart (Terry) Austin, Texas, Karrie Findley Wroten (David) Little Rock, and Rhonda Findley of New Orleans, La. He was proud of his eight grandchildren: James and Logan Dillard, Barry and Anna Findley, Ian and Jack Stewart, and Casey and Alex Wroten. They loved "Paw Paw" and will miss him deeply. Barry was preceded in death by his parents and three of his siblings: Arlene Findley Loomis, Willis Winn Findley II, and Sister Patricia Lee Findley O.S.B. He is survived by his sister Twila Findley Finan Scott, of Jackson, Tennessee. He was Uncle Barry to numerous nieces and nephews and was loved and respected by friends, colleagues, and business associates far and wide. He joined his father's CPA firm in 1953 and spent the next 60 years in public accounting. He earned his CPA certificate in 1959. His depth of knowledge, genius, and integrity are legendary. He was a board member and past Vice-President of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants, and former President of the Arkansas Society of CPAs. He served as President of the Catholic area school board and was appointed to the Catholic Diocese Finance Council by Archbishop J. Peter Sartain. He was a member of the Knights of Columbus, The Serra Club, and served on an exploratory team that brought the Permanent Diaconate program to the Diocese of Little Rock. As an avid collector of Lionel Trains, he merged hobby and financial expertise into a position as a board member of the Lionel Collectors Club of America eventually becoming national treasurer for that organization. He was an enthusiastic member of the SEF Financial Club. Another of his interests, aviation, began in his youth when he learned to build and fly model planes. He was a ferocious competitor and walked away with top honors in contests around the state. In 1952 he enlisted in the Air National Guard 8154th Air Base Squadron at Adams Field. He later became a twin-engine instrument rated pilot. In the 1970s his love of competition and his need for speed brought him to auto racing. He was a top competitor in Formula Atlantic and Formula Ford racing at Midwest and Southwest Division SCCA races, and he qualified for and competed in SCCA national championship races at Road Atlanta. In 1992 he competed in sports car endurance races, including a grueling 24-hour race at Watkins Glen, NY. If his schedule wasn't exhausting enough, he somehow found time to referee central Arkansas high school football games for 10 years. His interests were multi-dimensional and he put his heart into every endeavor whether it was for personal satisfaction or to give back to his community. He was unbeatable at chess, loved his poker crew, and for many years enjoyed lively doubles matches with his tennis buddies. He leaves behind long lasting friendships that have endured throughout the years. He was a member of St. Edwards and Immaculate Conception parishes. He believed in Catholic education and made sure his children were schooled in that tradition. Visitation will be at 2 p.m. Sunday February 3, 2013 at Roller-Chenal Funeral Home, 13801 Chenal Parkway, Little Rock, (501) 224-8300, followed by a Rosary at 3 p.m. The funeral mass will take place at 11 a.m. Monday, February 4, 2013 at Saint Edward's Catholic Church, 805 Sherman Street, Little Rock, Ark. with Msgr. John O'Donnell as celebrant. Burial will follow at Pinecrest Memorial Park, 7401 Highway 5 North, Alexander, Ark. Memorials may be made in his name to Mount Saint Mary Academy, Catholic High School, or the Arkansas Society of CPAs Scholarship Fund. Please visit http://www.rollerfuneralhomes.com/chenal to sign the online guestbook. Barry's family would like to thank the staff at Hospice Home Care Little Rock for their support in his final days. The prayers, visits, and love from Barry's friends were a source of strength during his long journey home. "Two roads diverged in a wood, and I, I took the one less traveled by, and that has made all the difference." - Robert Frost.