EASTON AND CARIBOU, Maine — Mary Elizabeth Grass Barnes Hutchings, 71, passed away April 29, 2017 at the Aroostook Medical Center in Presque Isle surrounded by her family.
Born to the late Ellwood and Winnifred (Cote) Grass September 30, 1945. Mary attended Limestone Schools where she was active in band, orchestra, National Honor Society. Before leaving for college she worked at Sesme Car Hop where she met her future husband, Raymond (Butch) Barnes, Jr. Mary graduated St. Mary’s School of Nursing in Lewiston as co-valedictorian in 1966. Mary had a mini-50th reunion with some very special Nursing School classmates in September 2016. Mary worked in the Fort Fairfield school system for 25 years as the School Nurse. Butch and Mary together raised two children, Mark and Tamra (Tami). Butch, Mary and the kids spent their time together crafting, camping, fishing, and canoeing. Holidays, birthdays, any day really, the Barnes’ and the Grass’ would be together laughing, joking, telling stories and having fun as a family. Butch passed away January 26, 1990 after their 23 years of marriage. In December 1990, Mary met with Frederic Hutchings Sr. who had also lost his spouse, Maryanne, that year. Butch and Maryann were first cousins so Mary and Fred had known each other for almost than 30 years. After a brief courtship, the two married March 23, 1991. After retiring from the Fort Fairfield School System, Mary and Fred ran Hutchings Flooring in Presque Isle until 2010. They were active in the 20th Maine Civil War Reenactor group. They were married until his death March 15, 2011.
Mary is survived by her children; a son Mark Barnes and his fiancé Paula Soucy Demerchant, of Presque Isle, daughter Tamra Keaton and her husband Ken of Caribou; 3 grandchildren, Zachery, Sara and her significant other Wes Holmes, and Cody Barnes all of Presque Isle; Great Grandson, Camden Burtt of Easton; brother Harold Grass and his wife Sandra, of Limestone, Brother-in-law Robert Grassick of Weymouth, MA; Four step children Frederic “Todd” Hutchings Jr. and his wife, Patty, of Presque Isle; Naomi Mallot and her husband, Louis, of Yuba City, Calif., Ann Swan and her husband, Galen “Chip,” of Hampden, and Janet Barnes and her husband, Roger, of Presque Isle; step-grandchildren, Vaughn Hutchings, Brenton Mallot, Aaron Mallot, Jennifer Eldridge, Jason Hair, Christopher Swan, Julia Wilcox, David Sanipass, and Daniel Sanipass; and several step great-grandchildren, nieces and nephews. Mary was predeceased by her parents, first husband Butch Barnes, second husband Fred Hutchings, her sister, Sandra Grassick and son-in-law Keith Flint. Friends may call at the Mockler Funeral Home, 24 Reservoir Street, Caribou, from 6 to 8pm Wednesday, May 3, 2017.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated 11am, Thursday, May 4, 2017 at the Parish of the Precious Blood Holy Rosary Catholic Church with Mary’s cousin, Fr. David Cote officiating. Interment will be in the New Holy Rosary Cemetery, Caribou. Friends who wish to contribute in Mary’s memory may do so through the charity of one’s choice. www.mocklerfuneralhome.com
