Marian Kathleen Barton

Marian Barton was born in Indianapolis, Indiana June 11, 1926, the second daughter of Harry and Mabel (McGowan) Pennington. She and her sister Marjorie grew up in Michigan. Soon after graduating from high school, she moved to Venice, California with her family. Marian married Ray Conners in California in March of 1946. They had three sons: Patrick Michael (“Pat”), Danny Ray (“Dan”), and David Timothy (“Dave”). After her marriage to Ray ended, Marian met her great love, Roy Barton. They married in 1973, and Marian became step-mother to two teenage girls, Donna & Cheryl. Marian and Roy bought a home together in Glendale, California, where they lived nearly 20 years, and the youngest three of their five children became adults. Roy retired, and in 1992, the couple relocated to Prescott, Arizona. Marian and Roy celebrated their 39th anniversary last January. Continuing into the last days of her life, she made it clear: “I love Roy!” In later years, to make herself feel good she would imagine being back on the plane to Tahiti with Roy on their honeymoon. Marian passed at home as she wished, with her loved ones close by. A supportive and encouraging person, giving confidence to those around her, Marian was her own strictest judge, working to better herself every day. Loving to laugh and an eternal optimist, Marian was also a bit of a jokester, loveable, and spread many smiles. One of Marian’s primary goals had been to become a skilled bridge player, and this she did, playing with friends, travelling to tournaments, and later, playing at the Senior Center. She became a member of the American Contract Bridge League in 1979. By League standards, she achieved the title of Life Master in 1979, Bronze Life Master in 98, and was a certified director to lead league sanctioned games. She was also a sportswoman, starting as a child in gymnastics. Crossing the wake like a dancer, she was a skilled and graceful water-skier. Snow skiing, swimming, dirt motor-biking, and skydiving were other activities she enjoyed. From 1980-1981, Marian served on the Los Angeles County Grand Jury, an opportunity in which she took great pride. She also took joy in giving to others and contributing her time to charity. Once in Prescott, she volunteered for Meals on Wheels, the Alzheimer’s Association, and taught computer use to seniors. She was also a life-long Christian. Marian and Roy travelled the world after his retirement. She danced at Carnival in Salvador, Brazil, took a river cruise through Western Europe on the Rhine and Danube, visited Hawaii, explored Alaska, and travelled in China, Scandinavia, and Germany. Marian also travelled for bridge tournaments which took her to Hawaii, Canada, and on a Mexico cruise. Life declined for Marian after a stroke in 2006, and her final diagnosis was leukemia. Marian was preceded in death by her parents, her sister Margie Pratt and brother-in-law Bob, and her very special friend Helen Gallaudet. She is survived by her husband, Roy Barton of Prescott, AZ; her sons and their wives: Pat and Linda of Port Angeles, WA; Dan and Robin of Swall Meadows, CA; and Dave and Angela of Prescott, AZ; her step-daughters: Donna (Barton) Eitel and husband Charly of Eureka, CA and Cheryl Barton-Petrie and husband Vince of Arroyo Grande, CA; her grandchildren: Scott and Sean Conners, Liam and Maya Conners, and Jennifer Eitel, as well as her great-grandchildren, Brendan Carroll, Jayden Rowe, and her sister’s three children. A memorial service for Marian will be held Friday, May 18, 2012 @ 4 PM, at the Granite Peak Unitarian Universalist Congregation, 882 Sunset Ave., Prescott. Donations can be made to an organization dear to Marian’s heart, for which she volunteered: The Alzheimer’s Association, N. Arizona Regional Chapter, 3111 Clearwater Dr. Suite A, Prescott, AZ 86305, (928-771-9257) - or to your favorite charity.