Mary E. Barrett, a 50-year resident of Pacific Palisades, passed away March 9 at Berkley West Convalescent Hospital, after a two-year battle with a respiratory disease. She was 81. Born Mary Elizabeth Arnold in Strawberry Plains, Tennessee, in 1925, Mary lived with her family in various areas of the Westside before settling in Venice in 1933. She was active in ‘Meglin Kiddies,’ a dance and singing troupe in Hollywood, the same group that Shirley Temple and Judy Garland belonged to at one time. She attended Venice High and was one of the first ushers of the Bundy Movie Theatre in Santa Monica, before becoming a chauffeur-ette for U.S. Air Force officers during World War II. After the war, Mary worked as a jukebox girl for restaurants and beach clubs in Santa Monica, was an office clerk at the Deauville Beach Club and an assistant manager at the Jonathan Club. In May 1946, Mary met Chester L. Barrett at a weenie roast at Will Rogers beach, and he proposed the next day. They were married four months later, on September 14, at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Santa Monica. They had three children: Chester William (November 1947), Christopher Edward (1949) and Marsha Elizabeth (1954). The family moved to the Palisades in December 1957. Mary was a proud housewife and stay-at-home mom, until the mid-1960s, when she went to work alongside her husband Chet at Bay Cities Van & Storage in Santa Monica, as office manager. In her free time she enjoyed volleyball and tennis, and was a member of the church bowling league. Mary taught Sunday school for 20 years at the First United Methodist Church. She was active in many organizations, especially those that involved her family: Cub Scouts, Boy Scouts, Brownies, Girl Scouts, PTA at Palisades Elementary and Paul Revere Junior High. She coached youth baseball at the Recreation Center and enjoyed watching both of her sons play football at Palisades High. She was also involved in Job’s Daughters, the Salvation Army Women’s Auxiliary and the Assistance League of Santa Monica. Chet and Mary were active in the Swinging Saints, a square dancing group, and Mary sewed many of her own outfits. They purchased an RV and traveled extensively, making many friends along the way. On September 14, 2006, they celebrated their 60th anniversary at home with family and friends. Mary was preceded in death by her parents Minnie and Frank Arnold and her brother Al. She is survived by her loving husband Chet; sons Chester (wife Karin), Chris (Kathy) and daughter Marsha; four grandchildren (Bret, Gina, Kjerstin and Trevor) and two great-grandsons (Aiden and Gavin); sister Evelyn Gage and brother George. In lieu of flowers, Mary requested that donations be made in her name to the Santa Monica Salvation Army Women’s Auxiliary, 1533 Fourth St., Santa Monica, CA 90401. A memorial is planned for March 31 at 11 a.m. at the First United Methodist Church in Santa Monica, with refreshments.
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