Kevin Lee Barnes

Kevin Lee "Tank" Barnes, 65, of Canon City, Colorado, passed away June 9, 2021, North of Main Street, due to a motorcycle accident.

He was born in Northampton, Massachusetts, one of six children to a single-parent family. He attended the local public schools excelling at track, and wrestling teams, and was secretly a stunningly talented artist. Kevin was enviously gifted at everything he touched. He graduated from Columbia College with a Bachelor of Arts Degree. He loved snow skiing, motorcycling, and mountaineering. His skills were a pleasure to watch and he enjoyed sharing those times with his friends.

As a teenager, he volunteered at the Army Recruiting Station, leading him to enlist in the Army at age 17, seeking travel, adventure, and the education and understanding that the Army was sure to provide. Kevin's dreams of becoming a Green Beret were fueled at a young age by the unforgettable "Balad of the Green Berets." Through his hard work and dedication, he accomplished his lifelong goal of becoming a Special Forces Soldier. That monumental achievement would be one of the proudest defining traits of his life, accompanied by his strong sense of discipline, duty, and compassion for others. His capacity for forgiveness, kindness, and camaraderie with his friends and teammates is well known by all who knew and loved him, and he will be sorely missed.

His sister, Jaynie, fondly remembers his love of Thanksgiving, his favorite holiday, and having the cherished memory of dancing at her wedding with her "big brother" to the "Ballad of The Green Berets," which became the music of his life.

If we are lucky, we shall all continue to hear his laughter and his incredible voice every day for the rest of our lives.

Kevin is survived by his fiancee Karen M. Smith of Gloucester, Massachusetts, his two sisters, Jaynie M. Clark of Greenfield, Massachusetts and Barbara J. Rigali of Feeding Hills, Massachusetts,  his two brothers, Kenneth L. Barnes of Everett, Massachusetts and David J. Barnes of Hinsdale, New Hampshire,  and his half brother, Jamie F. Barnes of Sheridan, Oregon, and their families.  He is preceded in death by his father, Kenneth L. Barnes, his mother, Maureen I. Papillon, and his brother Ronald D. Barnes.  Kevin leaves behind seventeen cousins, eleven nieces and nephews, a large extended family, and countless friends who loved him.

Graveside Services at Pikes Peak National Cemetery on Friday, July 2, 2021 at 1:00 p.m.

Services entrusted to Holt Family Funeral Homes

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Kevin Lee Barnes, please visit our floral store.