Martha Marjorie Wyssmann Barrett

Martha Marjorie (“Margie”) Wyssmann Barrett of Houston, formerly of Spring, passed away peacefully on Saturday, January 10, 2026, at the age of 92. She was born in 1933 in the small farm town of Alma, Missouri, to Martha Augusta Gerken Wyssmann and Carl Aegidius August Wyssmann. As the youngest in a family of ten children during the Great Depression, Marjorie quickly learned the values of compassion, hard work, and resilience. She had many happy memories of a childhood spent with siblings, friends, and a much-loved rescue dog named Willy.

After high school, Marjorie moved to Houston’s Heights neighborhood to live with her sister Lucille and seek employment. She quickly embraced the city she would call home for the rest of her life, with its mild winters, lush foliage, and welcoming community. She became a lifelong reader of the Houston Post (later the Houston Chronicle) and faithfully cheered on the Astros, Rockets, Oilers, and Texans.

Shortly after arriving in Houston, she met William “Bill” Courteney Barrett, who shared her sense of humor and love of animals. They married and moved to Spring, Texas, where they raised three children: Courtneye Diane, Susan Kathleen, and Steven Anthony. Marjorie devoted herself to motherhood, which she considered her life’s greatest work. She and Bill divorced in 1985, and Bill died of cancer in 1991.

Marjorie rejoined the workforce in 1983 as a retail salesperson at Foley’s (later Macy’s), where she made many friends. In January 2002, she endured the heartbreaking loss of her youngest child, Steven, who died of heart failure at age 31. Marjorie found solace in helping Steven’s wife Heather care for their 6-month-old daughter, Morgan. Being a grandmother to Morgan and later to Morgan’s brother Bryce was one of the greatest joys of Marjorie’s life.

Marjorie retired in 2007 and eventually returned to Houston to be near her daughters. A passionate gardener, food lover, and animal advocate, Marjorie treasured nursery visits, Mercer Arboretum plant sales, fried shrimp, and caring for her beloved beagle Miss Molly, cats Hope and Mister, and her daughters’ many pets. She followed U.S. politics closely and remained curious and engaged well into her later years. To all who knew her, she exemplified kindness, clear-minded independence, an irrepressible sense of humor, and a quiet, enduring strength.

Marjorie is preceded in death by her parents; siblings Harold, Ruth, Victor, Carl, Lambert, Mary, and Robert Wyssmann, Esther Domsch, and Lucille Lyons; and son Steven. She is survived by daughters Courtneye Barrett (and husband John Capshaw, Jr.), and Susan Barrett (and husband Daniel O’Neill); daughter-in-law Heather Barrett Reding; granddaughter Morgan Emily Barrett (and partner Ian Masterson) and great-grandson Cash Barrett Masterson; grandson Bryce Sawyer Reding; and many beloved nieces, nephews, and friends. She was deeply loved and will be dearly missed.

The family extends heartfelt thanks to the staff at Seven Acres Jewish Senior Living Center, Vantage Hospice, and especially to caregiver Kim Pace for her devoted care over the past two and a half years.

In lieu of flowers, donations to the ASPCA in her honor are appreciated.