Beryl Doris Barnes, 93, of Rockport, MA, wife of the late David H. Barnes, passed away at Addison Gilbert Hospital in the early morning of Sunday, December 30, 2018. Beryl was born in Reading, MA on October 9, 1925, the daughter of the late Chester and Lois (Slater) Cook. She grew up in Reading, graduated from Reading High School, and settled there after marrying David in 1946.
Beryl and David raised four children together. They owned three boats, each named RiKeDoDe I, II, and III – named after their four children and relished their time on the ocean. Beryl was active in the Reading community throughout her life.
She held multiple jobs over the course of her life, but her most beloved was her own catering business “Cook’s Delight” and her retirement job as a Crossing Guard at 5 Corners, Rockport where she kept the little ones of Rockport safe for over 12 years. Beryl always loved the beach and once they retired to their dream home in Rockport, she delighted in her time spent there. Beryl was well-known as a classy dresser and aficionado of hats; on any given day she could be seen rocking a pink Army ball cap or an eclectic hat adorned with a flower.
An animal lover through and through, Beryl owned multiple family dogs. Her true companion Maggie, a lab/shepherd mutt, predeceased her this past June. Beryl was truly the matriarch and delight of her family – she was loved and cherished by everyone with whom she interacted – and the feelings were mutual.
She lived a beautiful long life and will be missed by her family and many loving, caring friends. She is survived by three children: Richard David Barnes and his wife Deborah of Maynard, MA; Kenneth Harry Barnes and his wife Louise of Lawrence, MA; Deborah Ann Hayward and her husband Peter of Milton, NH; grandchildren Kevin Michael Barnes and his wife Jane; Heather Jean Cutler and her husband Kevin; United States Army Captain Elizabeth Lois Simonsen and her husband Captain Aaron Simonsen; Ashley Jean Hendrickson and her husband Ryan, and seven great grandchildren. She was predeceased by her husband David; her son Donald Irving Barnes; her sister Audrey Graustein Belle; and her brother Chester Arthur Cook.
There will be a Celebration of her Life on Saturday, January 5, 2019 from 2-4 P.M. in the Greely Funeral Home at 212 Washington Street, Gloucester, MA. A service will be held at 3 p.m. officiated by her nephew, Rev. Alan Graustein.
Family and friends are cordially invited. The burial will be held privately. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made in her memory to The Cure Alzheimer’s Fund, 781-237-3800, www.
curealz.org or the MSPCA-Angell, 617-522-7400, www. mspca.org.
If you found any mistakes, or you would like to add/remove to this obituary, please contact us by email: info@obituary.memorial. We never ask money for this.
