Barbara Marsden Mahoney

Mahoney, Barbara Marsden

Passed away at home surrounded by family on November 21 after an extended illness. She was 89.

She is survived by her husband of 66 years, Richard J. Mahoney, former Chairman and CEO of the Monsanto Company, son Stephen, his wife Rachelle and granddaughter Marion Mahoney; son William and son Robert, his wife Angela and granddaughter Audrey Mahoney. Barbara Mahoney was born in Somerset, Mass. and graduated from UMASS, Amherst with a degree in Liberal Arts. Subsequently she was employed in the Admissions Office by Pembroke College in Brown University. Later, she accompanied her husband to Fairbanks, Alaska where she worked in Air Force Purchasing while he served as a Lieutenant in the USAF. Upon returning to civilian life and a number of corporate moves with Monsanto, they settled in St. Louis and remained there in retirement.

As executive wife she was a splendid ambassador at worldwide events for Monsanto while at the same time lovingly raising three boys in St. Louis. Barbara has been an active supporter of UMASS Amherst and Washington Univ. in St. Louis among other charitable interests and was a communicant of Church of The Annunziata in Ladue.

She had wide-ranging interests-among them, she loved music and excelled at the piano, produced fine needlework, collected art objects especially of the Art Deco period, was an avid flower gardener, an imaginative cook and she was fond of literary riddles - even solving NY Times crossword puzzles at the expert level. She radiated a keen sense of humor and always put others at ease.

Barbara was a lifelong baseball fan, first following the Boston Red Sox while growing up in Massachusetts and transferring her loyalty to the Cardinals during her more than 50 years in St. Louis. Stan and Lil Musial were counted among her many friends here. She will be dearly missed by her family and all who knew her and loved her. Funeral Services will be private.