James 'Jymo' Barrett Succumbs to Cancer at Age 60

James Patrick Barrett Jr., known to many of his friends as "Jymo," died November 9 at age 60 after a bout with cancer.

Barrett, the founder of Southampton Painting & Contracting, was an avid music lover with an almost obsessive infatuation with nature and the outdoors, according to his survivors. As a child, he moved from Brooklyn to Southampton with his parents James Sr. and Lorraine Barrett along with his brothers Valentine, Eddie, Bruce, and John and his two sisters Lorraine and Christine.

He attended and later went on to college at Highland University in New Mexico where he majored in art. After college, Barrett returned to Southampton and soon met his future wife, Donna. Together they raised five children and built a home together in East Hampton in 1980.

"When he wasn't working or taking family trips to his horse farm in Essex, N.Y., Barrett could often be found making a pitstop at a concert of his favorite band, The Grateful Dead, or on stage singing with his own band, the Mixed Nuts," his survivors wrote. "James enjoyed fishing, mountain climbing, and above all, loved music, nature and his family. He was a one of a kind man with a warm heart and charisma that is hard to match."

He is survived by his five children Danielle, Heidi, Shannon, David, and Jamie.

Visitation was held on Sunday at the in Southampton. A Mass of Christian Burial was held on Monday at in Southampton. Interment followed at Fort Hill Cemetery in Montauk.