Barbara Louise Mcgrath
Barbara Louise Mcgrath
Barbara Louise
McGrath of Boise, died Sunday, March 22, 2015 in a local care facility
following an extended illness.
A funeral service will be held at 2:00 p.m. Monday, April 6, at the
Alden-Waggoner Chapel, Boise. There will be a viewing for one hour prior to the
service. Rev. Christina M. Thompson of Whitney United Methodist Church will
officiate. Cremation will follow the service and final inurnment will be at the
Idaho State Veterans Cemetery.
Barbara was born on May 11, 1925 in Marshalltown, Iowa, the
daughter of John Lawrence and Hazel Irene Brennecke. During her childhood she
lived in Marshalltown, attending Marshalltown Senior High School. Upon graduation
in 1944 she attended Cedar Falls, Iowa State Teachers College for her beginning
teacher's education. Upon completion of the second year she wished to pursue
this vocation, teaching in Sioux City, Iowa in Bryant Elementary School. She
taught Kindergarten, which has been a joy to her, however for a change she was
employed at C D Peacocks, a large jewelry store located in Chicago, Illinois.
She sold sterling silver and holloware pieces. In this store she saw a number
of famous people, Marian Anderson, the beautiful black singer with a gorgeous
speaking voice, Judy Holiday, and Glen Ford who appeared with Rita Hayworth in
the movie, "Gilda". This exciting part of Barbara's life was in the
early 50's. The call to get the degree in teaching was uppermost in her mind
and in 1951 she graduated in Elementary Education from Greeley, Colorado. She
was hired as a second grade teacher at the Knapp Elementary school in Denver,
Colorado.
In 1960 she was married to Don McGrath, and their daughter,
Kelly Anne was born in Denver, Colorado. Don received a teaching assignment to
be the director of Admissions at a small Quaker college in Wichita, Kansas,
thereby moving to this midwestern city. Steven John McGrath was born there. The
family lived in Wichita for seven years, then moved to Idaho Falls where Don
was an Elementary teacher at Theresa Bunker. Moving to Boise in 1974, Barbara
was a substitute teacher in many elementary schools, teaching Kindergarten
through third grade inclusive. She then retired in 1991.
Barbara's interests were gardening, traveling, reading, and
doing volunteer work where needed.
She
was a member of the First United Methodist Church, Cathedral of the Rockies,
PEO-Chapter 80, a past member Eastern Star Chapter 65, Woman's Christian Club,
Kings Daughters, and the retirerd Teachers Association.
She
is survived by her daughter, Kelly Anne McGrath; and a son, Steve John McGrath,
both of Boise; one sister, Eleanor Rose Evans Of Salt Lake City, Utah; and
several nieces and nephews.
She
was preceded in death by her husband Don McGrath, and a sister, Edith Virginia
Reisser of Orinda, Ca.
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