Mary "Betty" Elizabeth (Barker) McClenaghan

Mary Elizabeth “Betty” McClenaghan, 91, went to be with her Lord on 4/7/22, surrounded by her family. Born on 12/20/1930 in Wakefield, Rhode Island, to the late Norman Ray Basil Barker and Emma Dimon Barker, Betty lived her life with a heart for God and for others.

She grew up in Peace Dale, RI, in the home her father built, and accepted Christ as her Savior in October of 1945. She surrendered her life to full-time Christian service when she was 16 years old and, after graduating from South Kingston High School in 1948, she attended Gordon College of Theology and Missions in Boston, MA. Betty graduated from there in 1952 with a Bachelor’s Degree in Religious Education, followed by an opportunity to attend the Summer Institute of Linguistics in Norman, OK. After completing her education, Betty launched into a life of service to others. She counseled at the Billy Graham Rallies in the Boston Gardens, co-directed Vacation Bible Schools throughout the northeast, and started work in Connecticut as the bookstore manager in the Christian Union and Goodwill Mission. It was there that she met her husband of 54 years, James Ross McClenaghan, Jr., and together, they served in churches, rescue missions, and in ministry across Connecticut, New York, Virginia, and Maine.

Betty loved to write, read, and teach. She took great joy in their seven children and, later, her 17 grandchildren, 32 great grandchildren, and 5 great-great grandchildren. Upon retiring to Sarasota, Florida, in 1990, Jim and Betty took delight in volunteering with the nursing home ministry through Faith Baptist Church. Betty enjoyed serving there for nearly 30 years. Betty was a wonderful listener and her unyielding, unswerving, steadfast faith in the faithfulness and goodness of Christ was evident in her every conversation and in her constant prayers for, and encouragement of, others. It was her greatest desire that all should know that God so loves us that He gave his precious son to die for us, and that we might choose to accept Him as Savior and Lord of our lives. She prayed that all would understand that no matter who we are or what we’ve done, all may come to know Him. We rejoice that she is now in the presence of her beloved Lord!

Betty is predeceased in death by her husband, her parents, her sister, Ruth Barker Willet (Ernie); her daughter, Grace McClenaghan Conroy; her grandson, Douglas McClenaghan; her granddaughter, Jennifer Conroy; her great granddaughter, Kalli King; and, her great grandson, Andrew Beecher, Jr.

She is lovingly remembered by her children, James McClenaghan III of Hilton, NY; Miriam Armstrong of Buckley, IL; Brian McClenaghan (Sindy) of Chesapeake, VA; Barry McClenaghan (Tammy) of Rochester, NY; Faith Beecher (Howard) of Hartselle, AL; and, Joy McClenaghan of Sarasota, FL. She is also lovingly remembered by her many grandchildren who, though most lived far away, she covered in love and prayer; her two brothers, Norman Barker (Pennsylvania) and Roger Barker (Rhode Island); and many nieces and nephews all over the country. She was so loved and will be greatly missed.

Services celebrating Betty’s life will be held on Sunday, 4/10/2022, at 11:15AM at Faith Baptist Church, 8751 Fruitville Rd., Sarasota, FL, 34240 following the morning services.

For online tributes, please visit www.rtsfunerals.com