Marilyn (Craig) Barnes
Marilyn Barnes passed away early Tuesday morning, September 9th at the ripe age of 100 years old. She was born Marilyn Jeanne Craig on July 31st, 1925, to parents William and Katheryn Craig. She grew up almost her entire life in Saint Joseph, Missouri. Her last few years, however, she resided in Mesa, Arizona.
She graduated from Lafayette High School in 1943, then attended Junior College in Parkville, Missouri, where she graduated with an Economics Degree in 1947. On September 14, 1950, she married Don Barnes. They had almost 46 years together before his passing. They also had four children together.
Some of her work experiences were as a receptionist for Dr. William Rost, 18 months in the Kansas City, Parkville business offices, BMA Insurance Company Advertisement Dept., St. Joseph News Press Advertising Dept., and Dottie’s Knit Shop when it opened in St. Joseph, Missouri.
During her children’s young years she was pretty much a stay at home mom but was a Girl Scout leader and a Boy Scout leader for her children’s younger years, and serve as PTA president at Sherwood Elementary School. As her children grew older, she decided to go back to school attending Missouri Western College to receive her BS in Education. This took Marilyn into a career teaching seventh and eighth grade for 12 years at Cathedral Catholic school and 19 years teaching sixth grade at Coleman Elementary School for a total of 31 years in education
Marilyn was preceded in death by her parents, sister Nancy (Craig) Scott, granddaughter, Melissa Cooper, husband, Don Barnes, and son-in-law Jim Thorpe.
Survivors include children: Vicki (Barnes) Thorpe, Craig Barnes (Barbara), Jeff Barnes (Beverly) and Tim Barnes; Grandchildren: Carrie Thorpe, Ashley Bolick, Jared Barnes, Kelly Park, Dusty Thorpe, Jennifer Salamh, Leslie Smith and Katy Barnes. Marilyn also had eight great-grandchildren and two great-great-grandchildren, along with quite an extended family of nieces and nephews.
Memorial Service 1:00 P.M., Thursday, October 2, 2025, Meierhoffer Funeral Home & Crematory. Interment Memorial Park Cemetery. The family suggests donations to the St. Joseph School District. Online guest book and obituary at www.meierhoffer.com.