William Edward Barry Mayo passed away peacefully on August 31st. Barry was born April 1, 1930 to Verena Haney Mayo and Reginald Sydney Mayo in Ottawa Canada. He spent his childhood in Ottawa and his youth in Gatineau. 

Although Barry excelled in academics, he was an avid outdoor enthusiast. Almost all of the stories he told of his youth were of his experiences camping, canoeing, and hiking as a Boy Scout. One of his favorites was the winter day that he and a group of boys were camping along the Ottawa river. A large shelf of ice at the shore looked tempting as a place for the younger boys to walk out on. Always a leader, Barry stepped on to the ice with a large rock in order to break it up. As he threw the rock down, the ice sheet split between his feet and down in to the river he went. Instead of teaching the younger boys how to avoid falling in the river he taught them how to build a fire in the snow, get dry, and prevent frostbite. 

He and his family joined the LDS church while he was a teenager. He was deeply committed to service in his church. He deferred his admission to medical school so that he could serve a church mission to South Africa for three years. He held many church assignments including bishop, stake president, area authority presidency, and patriarch. But he was never too busy to have a quiet conversation with someone who needed encouragement, or support. Countless people have been moved by his quiet, earnest, undivided attention to them in their moment of need. This was his superpower. 

Barry’s mother was a nurse and inspired him to pursue a career in medicine. He attended The University of Western Ontario in London for medical school. He flourished in that environment. He was elected as the president of the entire student body while he was a medical student. He was selected to give the valedictory address at his medical school graduation. Always loyal to his history, Dad continued to support the University of Western Ontario through his generous funding of student scholarships in nursing, engineering, medicine, music, and sports. 

The most important thing that happened to him during his medical education is that he met the love of his life, Helene, on a blind date. It was a case of Eddie Albert meets Eva Gabor. That fortunate event started a committed relationship that lasted 68 years. 

Barry loved taking care of patients. His ability to make each person feel like they were the only thing that mattered to him was legendary. He was passionate about implementing the newest technologies in to his work. Many family dinners were spent listening to Dad describe in gory detail what he had done in the operating room that day, even when Mom thought it was not a suitable dinner topic. 

When their grandchildren came along, Mom and Dad became Nana and Papa. They loved having family dinners on the floor in the family room and celebrations around the pool in their back yard. Their home was always open to family and friends. They were famous for their hospitality. Many strangers or people new to Michigan were invited to share a meal in their home. 

Even as his children grew to adulthood and began their own families, Papa took his role as spiritual leader of the family very seriously. He loved to have family prayers. For at least 45 years, on Christmas Eve, Dad would read the Christmas story from the Bible and have his children and grandchildren re-enact the manger scene with a carved wooden creche that he and Mom bought for that event. 

Barry is preceded in death by his wife, parents, brother, and granddaughter: Helene Puskas Mayo, Reginald and Verena Mayo, Ronald Mayo, and Rayna Perry. Barry is survived by his four children: David (Kathleen) Mayo, Ilona (Jim) Perry, Robert (Karin) Mayo, Paula Mayo; thirteen grandchildren; and nine great-grandchildren. 

A Memorial Service for Barry is planned for Saturday, October 10, 2026 at 2 pm at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints at 303 West, 3700 North, Provo, Utah. The service will be available on streaming. The link may be found at WalkerSanderson.com at the end of Barry’s obituary. 

The family asks that in lieu of flowers, contributions be made to: Oakland University William Beaumont School of Medicine. https://www.oakland.edu/medicine/ alumni/giving/ Or The Special Olympics at: support.specialolympics.org