Mary Calentine Barnes

Mary was born on February 24, 1941, in Hutchinson, Kansas, to Harold Calentine and Melva Griffitts Calentine. She grew up in Hutchinson with her younger brother, Jack, surrounded by family, friends, and a community she remembered fondly throughout her life. As a young woman, Mary enjoyed dances, social gatherings, and spending time with the people she loved.

She attended Hutchinson High School and Hutchinson Junior College, where she met her future husband, Cary Michael Barnes. After they married, Mary and Cary moved first to Manhattan, Kansas, and then to Kansas City. While Cary attended medical school at the University of Kansas, Mary supported their young family by working at the Kansas City Public Library. Their first son, Chris, was born during their years in Kansas City.

Following Cary’s graduation from medical school, the U.S. Army sent the family to Fort Lewis near Tacoma, Washington. Mary was captivated by the mountains and forests of the Pacific Northwest, although she never developed the same affection for its rain and cloudy skies. Their second son, Alex, was born in Tacoma.

In 1971, the Army transferred the family to Fort Bliss and William Beaumont Army Medical Center in El Paso. Mary and Cary quickly came to love the desert’s dry air, bright sunshine, and wide-open skies, and El Paso became their home. Mary enjoyed oil painting and there are paintings of hers on many walls.

Mary had a gift for making people feel welcome. She loved entertaining and was active for many years in the Officers’ Wives Club. Her home was often filled with friends gathered for dinner parties, bridge games, and lively conversation.

When Cary retired from the Army in 1977, they built the first home they had ever owned. The house was a source of great pride and happiness for them both. Mary delighted in decorating it, tending her garden, and filling its large dining room with family and friends. She also had a craft room where she pursued her passion for arranging both fresh and silk flowers. Many wedding decorations and floral creations began in that room.

Mary later attended the University of Texas at El Paso, earning a bachelor’s degree in English literature in 1985, the same year her eldest son, Chris, graduated from college. She went on to work at St. Clement’s School, where she found a role perfectly suited to her lifelong love of books: serving as the school librarian. Mary took great pleasure in caring for the library’s collection and, most of all, in helping children discover the joy of reading. She especially treasured the long summer visits of her grandsons and the memories they created together.

In retirement, Mary remained active through gardening, travel, social gatherings, the church and choir, and time with her family.

Mary was a devoted member of the St Mark’s church where she was a passionate member of the choir and where she met Roger Springstread who brought her love, companionship, affection, and many years of happiness.

As her dementia progressed, Mary moved to Golden Park, a special care home where she was treated with kindness, dignity, and exceptional care. Her family is deeply grateful to the staff who looked after her during the final chapter of her life.

Mary was preceded in death by her beloved husband, Cary, and by her parents, Harold and Melva. She is survived by her sons, Chris (Kathleen) and Alex; her grandsons, Daniel (Sheena) and Michael (Eilis); her brother, Jack Calentine (Grace); and her longtime partner, Roger Springstead.

Mary will be remembered for her warmth, hospitality, creativity, love of books, devotion to family, and ability to make a home a place of beauty, laughter, and welcome.

A memorial service celebrating Mary’s life will be held at St. Mark’s United Methodist Church on Saturday, August 1, 2026, at 11:00 a.m. The family warmly invites all who knew and loved Mary to attend and help celebrate her life.

Mary will be laid to rest beside her husband, Cary, at Fort Bliss National Cemetery on August 4, 2026.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to a local library or to the St. Mark’s School library in Mary’s memory.