James MUNROE

MUNROE, James Barrie passed on November 23, 2021 from critical illness. He was 85 years old. Barrie was first and foremost the dear patriarch of his large and beloved family. He is predeceased by his wife of 47 years, Myrna; his eldest son, Dallas, an actor; and his grandson, Clay. He is survived by his three children, Brian, a pharmaceutical company executive, Brad, a Presbyterian minister and published author, Barrie Suzanne, an accomplished business owner and his nine grandchildren, Chris, Sophie, Matt, Jackson, Sonnie, Devon, Samantha, Aidan, and Spenser. Barrie spent most of his life in Florida where he called the Pinellas County beaches home. He grew up in Indian Rocks Beach and spent most of his retirement and later years in St. Pete Beach. He was an avid boater and fisherman and loved the water and the place he called home. Barrie's oldest friends will recall a high school track and football star and the King of his Senior Prom. This is where he met Myrna who would later change his life forever. Barrie served in the U.S. Army during the Korean conflict as an Aircraft Mechanic. He was well suited to the task having built his first car with his brothers at age 11 - he could fix anything - and this foretold his career as an engineer. He trained to work on airplanes until an Officer noticed him running routes playing touch football and pulled out a stopwatch. He was immediately transferred to the Army Track Team where he placed second in the 1958 European Championships, beat by a whisker with the winner setting the world record in that race. Barrie returned from service, promptly married Myrna and started a family, and the adventure began. He enrolled at the University of Florida, eventually gaining a degree in Chemical Engineering. These things were essential to who he was, a loving husband and father, an engineer through and through, and a proud member of Gator Nation. His career, as a senior executive at Procter and Gamble and then Occidental Petroleum had him moving his family around the country and traveling the world for work. Along the way, while raising four kids with Myrna, he became a "consistent" golfer, marathon runner, an accomplished private pilot and a boat captain. Barrie and Myrna led an active social life and could often be found at the Pass-a-Grille Yacht Club where he was elected Commodore (Myrna being the power behind the throne). Most notably he was the kindest, most gentle man to walk the planet. He had a harsh word for no one. His thoughts were always for others. As for any hardship that would drift his way - and there ended up being many - he was dismissive and his phrase "all good" was all you would get. He will be missed greatly for his humanity and huge heart. They just don't come better. The family will celebrate his life privately at a ceremony in Florida at a later date. The online guestbook is available at www.moneyandking.com