Mary Geraldine (Gerry) Barbree died on April 21 at the age of 104, in her home on the family ranch near San Lucas where she lived her entire life.

SERVICE INFORMATION:

A ROSARY SERVICE will be held 7:00 p.m., Tuesday evening, April 23rd, at St. John's Church in King City.

A FUNERAL MASS will be held, 10:00 a.m. on Wednesday, April 24th, at St. Luke's Catholic Church in San Lucas.

A BURIAL will follow in the family cemetery on the Barbree ranch.

Aunt Gerry was born in Monterey, on August 11, 1908, to William Barbree, rancher and school board member, and Margaret Quinn, who had moved to the Oasis district to teach in the one room school there. Gerry attended the Oasis school until 7th grade, spent 2 years with the Sisters of Notre Dame in Watsonville, and returned to King City High School to graduate with the class of 1925.

After high school, Gerry cared for her invalid mother at home, and began her involvement with various charities and religious activities. She was an active member of the Monterey County Red Cross, working with others to bring swim lessons to the King City pool. She was a founding member of the San Lucas Cemetery District, and dedicated many years to keeping the cemetery a functioning part of San Lucas history.

Gerry's greatest influence was through the Catholic Church, teaching catechism to generations of San Lucas and King City children, playing the organ at hundreds of church services, weddings, funerals, and any other function with music involved. She was recognized in 1988 by Pope John Paul II for over 50 years of teaching the Catholic faith, and met the Pope when he visited Monterey County.

Gerry also traveled extensively, with her nieces and nephews all over the United States, and with her sister Pat all over the world. She entertained guests from across the world, having met people while traveling in Northern Africa, Europe, and South America. But she always came home to the Oasis, where the view from her front porch was essentially unchanged for her entire life.

Never married, family was still an integral part of Gerry's life. All family celebrations included Aunt Gerry, and her birthdays became the center of family reunions. She was preceded in death by her brothers Barney and Jim, and her sister, Pat Rosenberg. She is survived by nephew Bill (Penny) Barbree, nieces Anne Manes, Margaret Duflock, Jane (Bill) Mathein, Susan Madson, Kate (Tim) Hearne and 98 (and counting) grand nieces and nephews, great-grand nieces and nephews, and great-great-grand nieces and nephews. Pall bearers will be her grand-nephews, Mike Barbree, Robert Manes, Walter Duflock, Tim Mathein, Hethe Barbree, Jim Hearne and Hank Madson.