Marilyn J. Barrett

Marilyn Joyce Barrett of Kalamazoo, Michigan, passed away Friday, March 22, 2013 peacefully with her son at her side. She was the daughter of Nelson and Gladys Courtney, preceded in death by her sister, Colleen Courtney, and her beloved husband, Dermot Arthur Barrett. Marilyn is survived by her brother, Nelson Warn Courtney and his wife Jean; her children Joel, Andrew and his wife Theresa, Christopher, Therese, Gregory and his wife Joy; 6 grandchildren: Paul, Sarah, Katharine, Joseph, Michael, Chase, and Michelle; and 5 great-grandchildren: Tara, Ethan, Vincent, Evan Dermot, and Samantha. Marilyn was born in Kalamazoo on March 12, 1930. She graduated from Nazareth College with a Bachelors degree in education. From there she became a 2nd grade teacher in the Portage schools. After getting married in 1951 to Dermot Art Barrett (Art), Marilyn resigned from teaching to become a full time mother of five children. After her youngest child started elementary school she went back to work as a sales person at Jacoboson's Home Store in downtown Kalamazoo from which she retired with over 25 years of service. Marilyn was married to Art for 59 years. Marilyn and Art enjoyed the restoration and showing of their much loved 1925 Buick Roadster that Dermot purchased when he returned from WWII. Together they loved to travel starting with camping with her young family and then later traveling to many different states and countries to include Europe and an Alaskan cruise for their 50th wedding anniversary. Marilyn was always active in her children’s lives including helping them manage the neighborhood Kalalmazoo Gazette paper route for ten years. She was a volunteer of Cooper Township Voting Polls. She was a member of St. Ambrose Catholic Church since 1957. Marilyn loved all aspects of nature and used her vast knowledge of horticulture to make her home and yard a wonderful showplace. Marilyn had a love of all animals and was an avid bird watcher. Her love of nature drove her to feed the wild animals in her yard all year. Marilyn always shared her love and home with numerous family pets, with the last being a border collie named Polly that brought her great companionship and purpose. Marilyn was a huge Tigers fan and rarely missed watching a game; she loved the Tigers almost as much as her dark chocolate snacks. Family and friends referred to her as the “Weather Woman.” She felt it was her job to watch and warn the family of the current and future weather conditions. Marilyn’s sense of humor and quick wit along with her sweet disposition will be forever remembered and greatly missed. Family will be receiving guests at Parchment Redmond Funeral Home, 2300 East G. Ave., 269-349-7735 on Tuesday, April 2 from 6-8PM, concluding with the saying of the Rosary. Funeral services will be held at St. Ambrose Parish, 1628 East G Ave., Parchment, MI on Wednesday April 3 at 10:30AM with internment immediately following in Mt. Olivet Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to St. Ambrose Catholic Church, 1628 East G Ave., Parchment, MI 49004, Hospice Care of Southwest Michigan, 222 N. Kalamazoo Mall Suite 100 Kalamazoo, MI 49007, Kalamazoo Nature Center ,7000 N. Westnedge Ave., Kalamazoo, MI 49009, or the Kalamazoo Humane Society, 4239 S. Westnedge Ave., Kalamazoo, MI 49008. www.redmondfuneralhomes.net