Death of Marjorie Ann Barron, Former Missionary to Democratic Republic of Congo

April 12, 1922 – March 11, 2013

Global Ministries was saddened to learn of the death of Marjorie Ann Barron, former missionary to the Democratic Republic of Congo. 

Marjorie Ann Barron, 90, of Beatrice, Nebraska, died at the Beatrice Manor on Monday morning, March 11, 2013.  She was born on April 12, 1922, in LeRoy, Kansas, to Albert C. and Anna H. Rasmussen Wilson. She grew up in eastern Kansas during the dust bowl and depression years and graduated from Burlington, Kansas, High School.  She went on to graduate from Phillips University in Enid, Oklahoma, and also from the University of North Carolina in Chapel Hill. 

 

On January 15, 1952, she married the Reverend Jack T. Barron in Hartford, Connecticut.  Together they served one term (1952 – 1957) as missionaries in what is now the Democratic Republic of the Congo on behalf of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ).  Upon their return from the Congo, they served Disciple churches in Independence and Emporia, Kansas, and Beatrice, Nebraska.  Upon retirement, they served as interim ministers in nine churches throughout the Midwest.  

 

As well as being a full-time mother and minister’s wife, Marjorie also worked at various times as a Christian Education Director, a school teacher, and a secretary.  She held various positions in the educational work and women’s organizations of the church, and served on the Kansas Regional Board of the Christian Church.  She was an active member of the First Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in Beatrice.  When her children were young, Marjorie was involved in PTA, was a Cub Scout Den Mother as well as a Girl Scout Leader.  In later years, she served on the Board of the Beatrice YWCA.  She enjoyed travel, reading, and art.  She was an accomplished artist, painting in oils, watercolors, and pastels.  She was also a member and past president of the Beatrice Art Guild. 

Marjorie is survived by her daughter, Anne Collins and husband Kris of Greenwood, Missouri; two sons, Mark Barron and wife Kathy, and John Barron and fiancée Margo Sawyer all of Lincoln; four grandchildren, Sara and Alex Collins, Brandon Barron and Michael Barron; two sisters, Garland Asman of Salina, Kansas, and Evelyn Nicholson of Burbank, California; three nieces and six nephews.  Marjorie was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Jack, who died on January 25, 2013; one daughter-in-law, Pamela Barron; one sister, Dorothy Lewis; an infant sister and brother; four brothers-in-law, William E. Lewis, Norman Asman, Jack Nicholson, and Jay Alley. 

Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Friday, March 15, 2013, at the First Christian Church (DOC) of Beatrice with Reverend David Bigley officiating.  Burial will be in the Evergreen Home Cemetery of Beatrice.  A family prayer service will be held at 10:45 a.m. on Friday in the church parlor.  A memorial has been established to the First Christian Church. Condolences and memorial gifts may be sent to the family at First Christian Church, 205 North 7th Street, Beatrice, NE  68310-3917.  A guestbook for signatures and messages of condolence is available online www.foxfuneralhome.net  at Fox Funeral Home of Beatrice, which is in charge of arrangements.