Mary Lee Barnard

For 91 years, the heart of Mary's life was family, especially the holidays that wove generations together. Christmas, Thanksgiving, and Fourth of July were more than dates on a calendar in the Rogers, Webber, and Barnard families; they were sacred reunions where cousins, siblings, nieces, nephews, aunts and uncles gathered around laughter, food, games, and shared stories that grew deeper every year. That tradition began before Mary was born, continued through her childhood, her marriage, her own children, and into the lives of her grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Mary truly lived a life where family wasn't just important; it was the very center of who she was.

Mary Lee was born on March 17 in Natick, Massachusetts, daughter of George Marshall and Lydia Webber Rogers. She graduated top of her class from Natick HS and attended Bates College, graduating in 1956. She learned her secretarial skills at Katharine Gibbs Secretarial School in Boston in 1957. She took those skills to New York City where from 1957 until 1960 she worked as a secretary at the United Nations and then Columbia University.

In 1960 she married Kenneth Barnard and they settled in Auburn Maine where they raised their 3 children: Karen, Chuck and Amy. They lived most of their life until retirement in Auburn. Ken was an architect and Mary a librarian at Fairview Elementary school for 15 years until semi-retirement took them to Gorham, Maine and Orono, Maine. There she found secretarial jobs before their big retirement adventure in Albuquerque NM. They were active members of High Street Congregational Church while in Auburn. Mary was involved with the League of Women Voters and other civic and service organizations while in Auburn.

Albuquerque was home for 15 years during their early retirement with return trips to Maine for the children and grandchildren twice a year. They found many ways to stay busy while in New Mexico. Mary worked in an artists consignment shop in Old Town Albuquerque and they enjoyed being part of Life Long Learners programming Albuquerque provided.

In 2008 they returned to Maine, with the assistance of their eldest grandchild who helped with the driving, to live in Augusta at Granite Hill Estates. This allowed them more regular participation in the sports, music, and theatric endeavors of their 10 grandchildren. They were a part of the Augusta community until 2020. With their daughters traveling more than Mary and Ken wanted for appointments etc the decision was made to become part of the Montello Heights community in Lewiston, Maine, and they moved in February 2020.

They weathered the pandemic years in their independent apartment space at Montello Heights until Ken's death in 2023. They had 63 years together. Mary then joined her daughter Amy's family until her dementia threatened her safety. At that point she moved to Schooner Memory Care where the caring staff there embraced and cared for her like family. We are very grateful to them for their dedication to everyone but especially to Mom.

Mary is survived by: her brother George Rogers, Jr. and his wife Judy of Litchfield; children - Karen Choate and husband Andrew of Lewiston, Charles Barnard of Portland/Raymond, and Amy Baxter and husband Butch of Lewiston; nephew George and husband Pat of Massachusetts; grandchildren: Rebekah Choate, Marshall Baxter, Ruth Choate, Kiah Baxter and husband Carter, Tom Choate and wife Amanda Nadeau, Heather Baxter and husband Will, Charles Barnard and girlfriend Julie, Anneke Barnard, Kenneth Barnard and William Barnard; as well as great-grandchildren Arden, Phoebe, Teddy and another due in January.

In lieu of flowers gifts may be made to your local library or Donna H Barnard Scholarship fund Chuck at 93 Hobart St Portland ME 04102. A service of remembrance will be held in 2026 at the convenience of the families.