Marjorie E Barrett

Marjorie Barrett passed away at 101 years on March 15, 2024 in El Paso, Texas. The third of five siblings, she was born November 5, 1922 and raised in Detroit, Michigan. Shelves filled with books and trips to the library were always part of her life. Even in her last year of life when she had difficulty recalling what she read, she would still sit daily with a book or newspaper and read.

Marjorie met the love of her life at a party. Phil Barrett had a record collection and was therefore a popular person to invite to parties…and he loved dance. They married 2 weeks after his 20th birthday on April 11, 1942. They danced together in life until he passed away at 87.

Their four children were born in Detroit. Their first son, Dennis, was born in 1943. Richard was born in 1945, Joan in 1947 and Terry in 1948.

Phil volunteered for the US Army and was deployed to France during World War II.

A high school friend of Phil’s who had been deployed to El Paso wanted Phil and Marge to join him and his new family, so he found Phil a better job in El Paso. The family moved to EP and started their new life, buying a plot of land in the lower valley on which Phil and Marge built their home, doing most of the work themselves. Despite initially no money for interior doors, a bookshelf was built under the living room picture window.

They established Barrett Refrigeration. Marge ran the office and Phil managed the service calls, hired and trained staff. When they retired, Marge volunteered providing vision screening for elementary school children which she did twice a week for many years.

Marge derived great comfort from her beliefs and her church, Zion Lutheran. Over the years she played many roles in the church. She was actively involved in the Lutheran Women’s Missionary League, contributing money, time, and effort to their many projects, holding office, and participating in district conventions.

A few years after Phil’s death, Marge moved from the home they built to independent living at Solstice. She made dear friends there and for years tended the roses in the back garden. She liked helping; she called bingo but didn’t play it. She donated blood a couple times per year until they said she was too old.

Visitation is April 4th at 5:00pm-9:00pm at Martin Funeral Home on 1460 George Dieter Drive, El Paso Texas, 79936 with a Prayer Service to he held from 7:00pm - 7:30pm. Funeral services will be held at 11:00am on April 5th at Zion Lutheran Church, 2800 Pershing Dr, El Paso Texas followed by a lunch courtesy of the Lutheran Women’s Missionary League and served in the social hall. Burial will take place privately.

Marge was preceded in death by her husband, Phillip Claude Barrett, her youngest son, Terry Barrett, her daughter-in law Nina Barrett, her grandsons Kevin and Michael, and her granddaughter-in-law Debra. She is survived and will be missed by her sister Rosemary Paul, her children Dennis and wife Joya, Richard and Joan, her daughter-in-law Pat, seven grandchildren and twelve great-grandchildren.

In lieu of flowers please consider a donation to Lutheran Women’s Missionary League (https://www.lwml.org) or your local library.