William Michael "Mikey" Barr

William Michael Barr Coahoma, MS
William Michael Barr, 47, a registered nurse, died July 6, 2024, at home. Visitation is Wednesday, July 10, 2024, 12:00pm - 1:00pm at Riverside Baptist Church in Clarksdale, MS. Funeral services are 1:00pm Wednesday, July 10, 2024, at Riverside Baptist Church in Clarksdale, MS with burial in the Barr Family Cemetery. Meredith Nowell Funeral Home in Clarksdale, MS is handling the arrangements
. Survivors include his wife Ashley Barr of Coahoma, MS; daughters Madison Barr of Nashville, TN, Mia Tate Barr of Clarksdale, MS, Hannah Reynolds of Coahoma, MS & Allysen Grace Reynolds of Coahoma, MS; father William Michael Barr, MD; sisters Meri Barr Gordon (James) of Nashville, MS & Tyler Barr Jenkins (Shaun) of Lyon, MS; nieces Mary Oliver Gordon & Ellie James Jenkins; nephew Kevin Bram Harris.
Preceded in death by his mother Tami Rose Orr Barr
Michael "Mikey" Barr was born at the Carle Clinic in Champagne-Urbana, Illinois in the fall of 1976 when his father was first starting medical school. In 1985, the family moved to Clarksdale, Mississippi and he enrolled in the third grade at St. George's School on West Second Street. The following year, he transferred to Lee Academy where he graduated in May of 1995. In his childhood, Mikey enjoyed the outdoors with his sisters at the home sandwiched between two cotton fields on land the family coined Oasis. He shot clays, rode Shetland ponies, ATVs, go-carts and his dirt bike which often, with the help of a ramp, had a frequent end at the bottom of the family pool. In ice storms, he "skied" the slick roads behind a pick-up truck and in the spring floods he stealthy sling-shotted between the pecan trees on a raft tied behind a four-wheeler.
In the summer, he pulled the trampoline down Highway 1 to Moon Lake placing it partially submerged beneath the second story balcony of the family's A frame lake house which conveniently neighbored the Cesare family. As the oldest of the combined 7 children, he took the lead in jumping off the balcony to the trampoline, making waves on jet-skis, and playing games with loose rules that might have sent other kids to the emergency room had their parents not been physicians. In high school, Mikey spent many hours on building the sound system in his Camaro, on the tennis courts at Clarksdale Country Club and traveling with his family on many western overnight white-water rafting trips, to various mountain ski resort and to Europe, where he would skip the sightseeing in favor of finding the best street food. This began a love of cooking which he nurtured in his free time and shared lovingly with family and neighbors.
As obvious to all, Mikey lead his family and friends in thrill-seeking adventures and fun, imprinting on them a childhood to which they still reflect fondly remembering his particular ability to inspire freedom, joy, and exhilaration. As he married and had children, he continued the adventures with many trips to Disney, the beach and with long days on the lake at the same property on which he spent his early summers.
Over his life, Mikey enjoyed various careers and vocations. He started his professional life at Nowell Funeral Home in Clarksdale, Mississippi, eventually leading him to the Dallas Institute of Funeral Service where he was president of the honor society. He then owned and operated a limousine business through which he donated services to the families at St. Jude. During this time, he also operated the local FBO, sat on the board of the local chapter of Habitat for Humanity and ran for public office. His interest eventually led him to a career of travel nursing which he enjoyed until his death. The most valuable and rewarding roles he played, though, was being the ultimately girl dad to four daughters, and husband to his wife Ashley.