Mary Barrett MacLaren

Mary was born February 6, 1933, in Oil City, PA to Francis Arthur Barrett and Luella Ault. She was the oldest of four daughters.

Mary was a free spirit with a lively and sometimes, irreverent sense of humor. In her younger years, she was a lifeguard, swim instructor, a model for Kofod Studios and Miss Warren County. She worked at Bell Telephone as a supervisor for several years.

She and her husband Willie loved to entertain family and friends. Their home was a fun place to be for adults and kids alike. Her home was always filled with fresh cut flowers from her gardens. Music filled the air, along with the aromas of fresh baked bread and gourmet cooking. Her backyard was a Zen sanctuary of tranquility. The many feeders attracted many birds, including chickadees, jays, tufted titmice and woodpeckers. The biggest thrill was spotting the rose-breasted grosbeak each year. Squirrel feeders around the yard provided hours of entertainment.

At around age 40, she became a rebel feminist and went back to school to pursue her B.S. and master’s in education at Edinboro University. For the next twenty years, she was a devoted teacher, who genuinely loved her students at Crawford Central School District in Meadville, PA. She won an award as Teacher of the Year.

In her fifties, she completed the Penn State Master Gardener program. She was an avid gardener. Vegetables, flowering plants, water gardens and Koi Pond were all part of her magic backyard spot.

German shepherds were her great loves. Beginning with Boss Dog, Eva, Heinz, Schultz, and Lilly. It would be remiss not to mention her precious cat, Rosebud, and little Gracie, a Yorkshire Terrier, and a constant companion when Mary became bedridden.

When health issues confined her to a bed, she was fortunate enough to be a resident at Pennybyrn at Maryfield in High Point. She had loving and excellent care from the entire staff. It was during these years that she became an enthusiastic Fox News fan. She was a MAGA girl, through and through! She was an enthusiastic fan of Elise Stefanik and Jim Jordan. She would have burst with pride had she lived long enough to see Elon Misk’s great rescue with Dragon Freedom!

She was predeceased by her loving husband of 36 years, Wiliam (Willie) Bartholomew MacLaren; her son, James William MacLaren; her parents Authur and Luella Barrett; three sisters, Martha Barrett, Ann Barrett Cholpecki and Jane Barrett Wong.

Mary is survived by her daughter, Martha Maclaren and son, David (Lori) MacLaren of Kernersville, NC and one beloved granddaughter, Christy Amanda MacLaren of Raleigh NC. She is also survived by a number of nieces and nephews: Julia Chlopecki of Saratoga, NY; Mary Chlopecki of Arlington VA; Laura (Andrew Rehm)Chlopecki of Hartford, NY; Beth Wilcox of Warren PA; Lynne Jenson of Roseville, CA; Marcia (Edward) Parcaut of Modesto, CA; Elizabeth Barnes of Jamestown, NY; Laura (Daniel) Phillips of Heritage PA; Robert (Casey) Gibb of Canonsburg, PA; Clay Chandler of AZ and Doug Chandler of MI.

Services will be held at a later date at the convenience of the family.

Friends and family may sign the guestbook online at www.piercejefferson.com.