Mary Ellen Barrett Obituary

Mary Ellen Barrett MT. PLEASANT - Retired university professor, Mary Ellen Evans Barrett, passed away in her sleep on Sunday, March 7, 2010, after a year-long battle with cancer. Upon her retirement in 1995, Professor Barrett moved from Bethesda, Maryland where she had resided for 30 years and settled in Mount Pleasant, South Carolina. Mary Ellen Evans was born November 12, 1939 in Toledo, Ohio and graduated from Toledo's Central Catholic High School and Mary Manse College. She relocated to the Washington, DC area where she worked for Xerox Corporation and later taught English in the DC public school system. In 1965 she married then Army Captain and lawyer, Michael F. Barrett, Jr. at Fort Myer, Virginia. In 1969, she received a fellowship from the U. S. Department of Education to study linguistics and teaching English as a second language (TESOL) at Georgetown University where she received her M.A. After graduate school, she became a faculty member of American University in Washington, DC where she taught advanced level foreign students. Loved by students, admired by colleagues, and respected by administrators, she later became Assistant Director of the University's English Language Institute. During her more than two decades at American University, she published numerous academic papers and co-authored two textbooks still in use today: Paragraph Development and Approaches to Academic Reading and Writing. She also served in various official positions with TESOL, an organization for teachers of English as a second language. After retirement and her move to Mt. Pleasant, Ms. Barrett actively involved herself in a number of volunteer organizations. She served as secretary for the Charleston board of Habitat for Humanity, assisted with fundraising for the Charleston Symphony, and helped prepare and serve food at Crisis Ministries. She was active in the East Cooper Newcomer's Club and the East Cooper Women's Club. Mary Ellen raised Australian terriers (three of which were AKC champions) and made special efforts for rescue dogs. She was a long-time volunteer at SPCA and did pet therapy with Alzheimer's patients (accompanied by her devoted "assistant volunteers" Maddy and Dory). She was a prolific reader and avid bridge player throughout her entire life. She is survived by her daughter Katherine (Kate) Barrett of New York City and her son Edward (Ned) Barrett of Ventura, CA. Her younger brother Terrence Evans of Williamsport, PA predeceased her. Her marriage to Michael Barrett ended in 1985. According to friends and family, Mary Ellen Barrett faced her illness as she had always lived life: with grace, with dignity, with courage, and with unfailing optimism, wit, and GOOD HUMOR. A celebratory memorial service will be held on Saturday, March 13, 2010 at J. HENRY STUHR MOUNT PLEASANT CHAPEL, 1494 Mathis Ferry Road, Mt. Pleasant, SC 29464 at 4:00 p.m. The family will receive relatives and friends at 3:00 pm for an hour prior to the service at 4:00 pm. The family suggests that in lieu of flowers, donations be made to a charity of the donor's choice. A memorial message may be written to the family by visiting our website at www.jhenrystuhr.com Visit our guestbook at www.postandcourier.com/deaths