Mary Lou Peterson

September 20, 1917 ~ August 10, 2014

Pebble Beach ~ Mary Lou (Barr) Peterson, 96, passed away in her home with family by her side. Born in St. Paul, Minnesota, she was a graduate of the University of Minnesota with a BA in History and received her Master’s in Education from San Jose State.

Mary Lou was an independent, creative, courageous and lovely soul. She was passionate about photography, capturing images of every continent in the world. She loved to collect, read and write her own silly jokes. She was a published author of her own poetry, many children’s stories, memoirs and she was an accomplished watercolor artist.

Mary Lou was a reading specialist in the Union School District in Los Gatos. She lived in Pebble Beach for 30 years and was an active member of the Church in the Forest, Monterey Peninsula Country Club, Book Club, Bridge Group, Republican Women’s Group, Widowed Person’s Club of Monterey Bay, World Affairs Council, and co-founder of The Peninsula Club. She also volunteered her time to the Discovery Shop.

Mary Lou is predeceased by Dr. John Barr, husband; Robert Peterson, husband; companion Bill Grandcolas and son James Barr. She is survived by three children: Dr. John Barr, of Boulder, CO; Nancy Denton of Hollister, CA; and Caroline Barr-Brofeldt of Pebble Beach, CA and was a loving grandmother (Mor Mor) to her ten grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.

The family wishes to express their gratitude and love to Dr. Gregory Tapson and staff, Heartland Hospice, and caretakers of Victorian Home Care.

Memorial services will be held Saturday, August 23 at 1:00pm at The Paul Mortuary Chapel.