David E. Barnes

David E. Barnes

Shelburne, MA - David Edward Barnes of Shelburne, MA, died unexpectedly December 28, 2025, at his home in Barrington, NH. He was born September 28, 1969 in Greenfield, the son of Cora Jane (C.J.) Barnes and the late Michael Barnes.

Dave was a graduate of Mohawk Trail Regional High School and continued his education at Johnson & Wales University, Berkshire Community College, and STCC, where he completed the Western New England Precision Institute program in toolmaking, thus launching his career in prototype engineering. Over the past thirty-five years he had been employed by Hardigg-Pelican in South Deerfield, Savage Arms in Westfield, and Sig-Sauer in Exeter, NH.

An independent, self-reliant and enigmatic individual, Dave was quietly confident and selective about friendships. He was a member of the Raymond Racing Busch Grand National North crew for fifteen years and part owner/crew chief of Dennis Stange's #44 Late Model. As a talented BBQ chef, he designed and fabricated a capacious smoker that provisioned weddings, reunions and benefit events.

Perhaps, however, it was as an outdoorsman that he was in his element. Dave fly fished the Salmon River, hunted deer in the Finger Lakes' region of NY State and elk in Colorado and Idaho. Recently, he had purchased 34 acres of protected land in Strafford, NH, with his mother, where he planned to make his home in the near future.

Smith-Kelleher Funeral Home, 40 Church St., Shelburne Falls, is in charge of arrangements. A visiting hour is scheduled for 2:00 PM on Saturday, January 10, to be followed by an informal celebration of his life. A reception for friends and family will begin at 4:00 PM in the Fellowship Hall of Trinity Church.

In lieu of flowers, David would encourage you to remember him by taking someone into the great outdoors to hike or hunt or fish.

"What we have once enjoyed deeply we can never lose. All that we love deeply becomes a part of us."--Helen Keller