Mary Lou (Walker) Barnes Obituary
Favorite teacher and mentor to many, Mary Lou (nee Walker) Barnes died peacefully at Linden Grove in Menomonee Falls at age 90 on Wednesday evening, Jan. 10, 2024. Mary Lou was born July 17, 1933 in Mt. Ida, WI the fourth daughter of Wesley and Minerva Aurelia (nee Riley) Walker. Her education started on the farm, learning to drive the tractor at age 5, lugging milk bottles to the stream to keep the milk cold and other farm chores. She watched her mother hand sew beautiful quilts that she treasured. Some of the quilts have their own history and provenance. Mary Lou also became an accomplished seamstress, making many of her stylish clothes.
She started her formal education in a one room schoolhouse and graduated from Fennimore High School and Eau Claire State Teachers College (now UW-Eau Claire). Mary Lou married Jerry Barnes on August 18, 1956 at the Unitarian Meeting House in Madison. After Jerry's Airforce commitment, while he finished his undergraduate degree at UW-Madison, Mary Lou worked at the University Hospital lab, living in a basement apartment nearby. The young couple then moved to Menomonee Falls, WI where Mary Lou began her career, teaching English and speech as well as being a drama teacher, forensics coach and librarian at Menomonee Falls High School and later at Brookfield East High School. She was known for her engaging classes, creative drama presentations, fun contests and her enormous doll collection that she used in displays at the library.
While Jerry and Mary Lou never had children of their own, she nurtured her students like her children. Some of those students became lifelong friends, and others felt her strong, profound long-lasting effect on their lives. She was significant to many and enjoyed sharing a cup of coffee and meaningful conversations, even if they had to be long distance via the phone.
Mary Lou and Jerry shared a love of Jazz and went to great lengths to hear their favorite players and attend many Jazz Festivals around the Midwest. She was a talented piano player and had a baby-grand player piano that her nieces, nephews, and friends would enjoy hearing the "Mickey Mouse March," "Barney Google" or "Rhapsody in Blue" played on one of the many rolls of music. It was a great way to wake up in the morning, in their cheerful and welcoming home. Mary Lou decorated for the season, even the shower curtains were changed for each holiday theme in their modern style home. Mary Lou and Jerry were devotees of Frank Lloyd Wright and modern design in their home furnishings, including the dishes.
She was always the student and teacher. She learned computers and helped others with their computer skills. She was always curious, accepting, encouraging, a quiet intellect and motivational to others. She was the librarian of family treasures, sharing them with the next generations, always with the backstory of their significance.
Larry Mou we will all miss your thoughtful, kind ways including those wonderful caramel apples you made for us at Christmas. You mentored without judging and changed the future of many you knew by giving them the tools they needed to make their own way in this world.
Mary Lou is survived by many nieces, nephews, dear friends and former students. She is preceded in death by her infant brother, James; her sisters, Jerry Ann Kruel, Joyce Walker, and Phyllis Paradise; two nephews, Bernard and Wesley Paradise; grandnephew Robert Morehead and her husband, Jerry Lee Barnes.
If desired, memorials may be made to the Library of Brookfield East High School (https://elmbrookschools.revtrak.net) where Mary Lou enjoyed being the librarian for 31 years.
Please send to: Brookfield East Library, c/o Principal Andy Farley, 3305 Lilly Road, Brookfield WI 53005.
Bravo, Mary Lou – your light shines on!
