Mary Merle McDermott

Mary Merle McDermott, age 92, of Austin, Texas, passed away peacefully on July 14th, 2025, in hospice care with her devoted primary caregiver, Nicole, and her compassionate hospice nurse, Shannon, by her side. We will be forever grateful for the care they gave Mom.

Born January 7th, 1933, in Dallas, Texas, Merle was devoted to her family, friends and the community in which she lived.

She attended the University of Texas, where she met and later married Jack Barton, co-captain of the Texas Longhorn football team. Together, they raised five sons, and Merle’s home quickly became the heart of gameday celebrations—full of laughter, food, and Texas pride.

Later in life, once her sons were grown, Merle returned to the University of Texas to pursue a degree in Nursing. She spent over a decade working as a neonatal nurse in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU), specializing in the care of premature and critically ill newborns. With a tender heart and expert hands, she was lovingly known as a “baby nurse.”

A devout Catholic, she was very active in the Church and was a member of several groups dedicated to helping others. She was the founder and guide of a weekly group of parishioners who met to pray the Divine Mercy Chaplet on Fridays at St. Albert the Great, a practice that was followed for many years.

Proud of her Irish heritage, Merle often spoke of her grandfather, Patrick Paul McDermott, who emigrated from Ireland to the United States along with his mother, sisters, and brothers. She took great pride in being a second-generation Irish-American.

Merle was preceded in death by her brother, Steve McDermott, and is survived by her brothers, Patrick McDermott (Judy), and Kevin McDermott, her sons John (Debbie), Jerry (Patrice), Jeff (Melissa), Jim (Tala) and Chris Barton and her (7) grandchildren, and (9) great grandchildren.

Mary Merle McDermott was greatly loved and will be deeply missed.

A memorial service will be held on August 1st, at Cook-Walden, 14501 North IH-35, Pflugerville, Texas, 78660. Visitation and Rosary begins at 12 noon with a Mass to follow at 1pm. Burial will be at 2pm followed by a Reception at 2:30pm.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests honoring Merle’s lifelong commitment to faith and caring for others by making a donation to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital in Merle’s name, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, Tenn., 38105 or at https://www.stjude.org