Mary Jean Barrett, 89, passed
away Thursday, Oct. 18, 2012
at Gibson General Hospital.
She was born April 10, 1923 in Owensville the daughter of Chester and Grace (Hartley) Armstrong.
Mary Jean was a graduate of Owensville High
School
class of 1942. She went to work for Republic Aviation and because she was so
small she could get into tight places to work on the planes. She also worked a
number of years at the Owensville Lumber Company. She then decided to further
her education and graduated summa cum laude from Oakland City College in 1966. She began her teaching career first at North
Posey and then at Owensville teaching both Latin and English, during this time
she went back to school to get her masters degree which she obtained in 1971
from ISU in Terre
Haute. She was
the Librarian at the new consolidated Gibson Southern High School from 1974
until her retirement in 1991.
She was a member of the
Christian Church Disciples of Christ, where she was the organist and pianist
for over 60 years. Other memberships include the Indiana Retired Teachers
Association and the Indiana Club. Something that she always enjoyed was all the
friendships made and activities at the senior center, the Gibson County Council
on Aging.
Survivors include her
daughter-in-law, Marilyn Barrett; grandson, John Barrett; granddaughter and her
husband, Eileen and Douglas Gorrell; two
great-grandchildren, Jennifer Sue and Joy Marie Gorrell;
sister, Medrith Horber; two
nephews, John and Chester Horber; niece, Barbara
Woodruff.
Preceding her in death were
her parents; son, Dr. Charles L. Barrett; Luther and Mina Armstrong, the uncle
and aunt who raised her from age two; niece, Joy Thayer.
Services will be held at 10 a.m. Monday, Oct. 22, 2012 at Holders Funeral Home with Evelyn Owens
officiating. Burial will be in the Columbia White Church Cemetery.
Visitation will be from 3-7 p.m. Sunday at the funeral home.
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