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Mary Elizabeth Barrera
Mary Elizabeth Barrera
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Mary Barrera Obituary
A Memorial Service is being planned in Torrington at 2 p.m., Wednesday, April 11, at Lighthouse Ministries, with Rick Carroll officiating. Burial will take place in Brownsville, Texas Friday, April 13.
Memorials can be sent to, Love A Child Inc., Missionaries Bobby and Sherry Burnet in Haiti PO Box 11000, Naples, Florida 34101-9908, in loving memory of Mary (Liz, Mar) Elizabeth Mathis Barrera.
Mary Elizabeth Mathis was born to David Allen Mathis of Cheyenne, Wyo. and Vickie Woodard Mathis Geerdes of Torrington, Wyo. Nov. 20, 1980 in Tulsa Okla. Mary was dedicated to the Lord Jesus Christ when she was a baby, and promised to be raised for God, Jesus, and the holy spirit. She could make you laugh when you were sad, and be a comfort to you just by being there.
Mar was the joy of our lives and to anyone who knew her. Mar was Christian; home schooled, and grew to know Jesus as her lord and Saviour. She asked Jesus into her heart at an early age and was baptized in the church. She was an avid reader of her bible.
Mar married Leo Barrera and two years latter they were blessed with a little gift from heaven, Diego Mathias Barrera, the joy of Mary and Leo's life and Diego's grandparents, JB and Vickie Geerdes, David Mathis with companion Jamie Vincent, and Leo's mother Bertha Garza. Mar and Leo chose for Mar to be a stay at home wife and mother. Leo always called Mar, Liz. They and Diego were inseparatable. Mar loved Leo and Diego so much; she doted on them all the time. Mar called Leo and Diego her boys.
She was the best wife and mother, daughter, sister, cousin, and friend anyone could want. On her web site, myspace .com, she had I love Jesus displayed boldly. She really did love the Lord Jesus.
Mar will be greatly missed by all of us, her Torrington family, along with Leo and Diego Barrera, Leo's mom Bertha Garza, Leo's brothers and sisters and their children. Mar's little dog, Sarc that her little family loved so much.
Survivors include her father, David Allen Mathis and companion Jamie Vincent; mother, Vickie Woodard Mathis Geerdes and stepfather, JB Geerdes; brother, Kirk Stricker with sister·in-law, Nicole; niece, Sydney; nephews, Dylan and Caleb, Angie Stricker (Gordon) Andrew; nieces, Faith, Weslie, and Danika; Uncle Jay Woodard; cousin, Jaylene Woodard Cunningham, (children Allen and Nicole), and cousin, Terri Woodard (Brent) Grassmick.
Preceding her in death was her great-grandpa, George Sr., grandma, Esther Woodward, grandpa Merle, grandma, Dorothy (Bolger) Woodard, grandmother Helen Mathis Brown Riley, step-grandmother, Stella Geerdes.
Mar is home now in heaven safe in the loving arms of Jesus. It is only what is done for Jesus that will last, everything else is vanity…
Oh God…
Oh, God, when I have food,
help me to remember the hungry;
When I have work, help me
to remember the jobless;
When I have a warm home,
help me to remember the homeless;
When I am without pain,
help me to remember those who suffer;
And remembering, help me
to destroy my complacency
and bestir my compassion.
Make me concerned enough to help, by word and deed,
Those who cry out
For what we take for granted.
"For I was hungry and you gave Me food, I was thirsty and you gave Me drink. I was a stranger and you welcomed Me… - Matthew 25:35
This obituary was originally published in The Star-Herald.
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Vickie Geerdes
April 5, 2024
Dear Sweetie Heart Mar Mar,i Love❤and miss you so very much❤❤❤ All my Love❤Mom
November 19, 2014
I love you aunt mary. I miss you.
Kayte Crosby
July 1, 2009
I remember seeing this guestbook at the time, and just being too sad to even leave a comment. I miss Mary very much, and think of her almost daily, even know 3 years later. She was my best friend for 11 years. What can I even say here to express what a hole she has left in my life? And now I don't even know where her only child, Diego is, and the only way I can console myself is that one day I will find him and be able to tell him about his mom. Growing up with her, being pregnant with her, and being new moms together, speaking almost daily on the phone.
Vickie Geerdes
July 11, 2007
Mar Mar my little angel butterfly,I miss and will always love you forever. You are one of a kind and will never be forgotten. Just remember your momma loves you sooo much and always will. You brought me so much joy in the 26 years Jesus lent you to me and the others who you touched their lives. I know you must be Diegos special angel. Jesus had a way more important job for you in heaven. Fly my little angel butterfly, fly! Till we meet in heaven... hopefully very soon....... All my Love, Forever, Mommy
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Mysi Murray
April 30, 2007
I only knew Mary through Kayte but
her life and death touched me in a way I can't explain.I remember how excited Kayte was to visit Mary in California and how much she talked about that trip when she returned. My heart and prayers go out to her family.
Jacqui Crosby
April 30, 2007
I only knew Mary through Kayte and Dustin and the couple of times we emailed each other when I was in England. But I followed her life through Kayte...if all I knew was that she was Kayte's friend,sister, confidante,and soulmate then that would be enough. I hurt slowly at her going - not all at once. Just a dull spot where Mary was. I know that she is not gone...just gone ahead...and much closer than we think. Thank you, Mary.
Mary Gorea
April 16, 2007
I didn't know Mary for a very long time, maybe a year. We had never met but I had always wanted to meet her. During that time she could always put a smile on my face when I was feeling down. She was an awesome person, and an awesome friend to me. I will miss her greatly. Love ya *hug*
Katie Arends
April 13, 2007
For the short amount of time I knew you, you where a wonderful friend. You made me a more carefree person. I thank you for always standing up for me when I couldn't, even when you where not at your strongest. I will miss knowing that you are in this world, but now that you are gone physically you have made Heaven a more wonderful place.
Melanie Shreve
April 11, 2007
I am so sad that Mary is gone. Wish I would have called her. She was a very bright girl, so full of light. My little cousin. My Dad really thought the world of you! Love you.
Pete Blackbird
April 10, 2007
From Torrington to New York and on to California, Mary's charasmatic nature mystified and intrigued everyone who knew her. She dreamt big, and wasn't afraid to chase those dreams.
Mary always sought adventure and was completely confident in her endeavours, never yielding to apprehension. These qualities allowed her to pack a lifetime of experiences into 26 years.
Mary urged others to be more open minded, inquisitive, imaginative and true to thier emotions. In essence, she challenged us to be better people.
Sometimes, when people pass before thier time, friends and family mourn the loss of what could have been. Losing Mary forces us to grieve for the amazing person she already had become.
Mary, I hope you're in a classic Mustang, top down, radio loud, speeding past the bluffs, without a care in the world.
Brian Florence
April 10, 2007
It's amazing how the roads of life go in so many different directions, and the routes of billions of different people may never cross... yet, many do. Once in a while, the route someone travels merges and travels with yours down the same road, for at least a little while... and then, sometimes as quickly and unexpectedly as they merged, they separate, and one path skews away from the other.
I found out my first true girlfriend, first true love, Mary Mathis aka Liz Barrera died on Tuesday April 4, 2007. I grieve for the loss that her husband, beautiful son, and family are feeling, but also, I can smile for what I am so glad I have and will never lose of her.
I first met Mary via the phone while talking to her older sister. Summer of 1994 I started to like Mary, and we talked on the phone many nights. I had to meet her, and spent all the money I made working at an amusement park all summer on a plane ticket. November 19, 1994 was the date, and I will never forget anything from that moment forward until she permanently moved out of my life in February 2001. Mary was a major part of my life for almost 6 years.
It is really hard to explain the attachment I keep with her even years after our paths took different directions. Through our tough times, I was taught the greatest gift that one can receive in their lives, if you're lucky enough to get it: how to love. I owe this to Mary.
Liz, after we went our separate ways, did not have a direct impact on my life, but, her influence remained as a presence now and always as the girl, love, relationship that helped to shape who I have become today. Every moment that goes by; something that happens in my life today, always holds a piece of something, or in some strange disconnected way, can trace its roots back to a snapshot in time that Mary and I shared. Whether it is a place, a song, a feeling, a certain look no matter whom with, a smile will brieflly appear on my face as I remember a specific link in time; a deja-vu-ish memory; an ironic, coincidental mental image that flashes upon the back of my eyes -- it is Mary.
Although she is now gone from this earth, I will not miss her, for she has and always will be here with me, the way I remember her, for her image was placed in the wet cement that became me, the times we shared, and the lessons learned that have cured into the concrete foundation of the person I have grown to be. My life as it exists today would not have been possible without all that we shared. She has been and always will be a major part of me.
She was an awesome human being, not only because of the influence she had on my life, but for all who's lives she touched. I am greatful she was able to grow, love, gife life, and realize how wonderful and important it all is, and share it with every person she ever came in contact with.
Connie K
April 10, 2007
My thoughts and prayers of comfort are with your family. I know you are with Jesus and you will be greatly missed. Although I did not know you personally (I am a friend of Angie's) I know you will keep an close watch over all of them.
Stephanie Watkins (Murdock)
April 10, 2007
I'm so sorry, she was such a kind, fun, outgoing person. She will be missed by many.
Bryan Schlickbernd
April 10, 2007
You will be missed!
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