Mary Lou Barbee

Mary Lou Barbee, 94, of Boise passed away on December 9, 2024.  Mary Lou was born January 23, 1930, in Caldwell to George and Mildred Sedlmayer. She joined her five older siblings: George, Edmund, Florence, Josephine, Rita Anne. Mary Lou's father died of a ruptured appendix when she was 9 months old. 

During high school Mary Lou worked as a cashier at a local theater and detasseled corn during the summer to help pay for her education at the College of Idaho. In three years, including the summers she earned her B.A. in Elementary Education. She started teaching in September of 1951. She retired from the Boise Independent School district after teaching second grade for 34 years, most of which were spent at Mountain View Elementary. The children always left with a hug as they went out at the end of the day. 

After college she married the boy next door, Chase Barbee, at the Cathedral of St. John the Evangelist in Boise on October 4, 1951. 

Mary Lou was active in the B.E.A., Alpha Delta Kappa, International Sorority, and Phi Delta Kappa, a special group of principals and teachers. She also belonged to the College of Idaho 1/2 Century Luncheon Group, Organ Group, and St. Alphonsus Auxiliary. 

Chase died December 6, 2010, after a battle with Alzheimer’s. Mary Lou and Chase were married 59 ½ years.

They both were volunteers yearly at the Sun Valley Jazz Festival and the Boise Open Albertson Golf Tournament. They were active at daily Mass at St. Marks and belonged to Joyful Hearts, a small faith community meeting every week. They went to daily Mass, then enjoyed coffee at McDonalds with several St. Mark's parishioners and then walked the mall.

Mary Lou and Chase enjoyed traveling and went on tours to England, Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Italy, Scotland, Ireland, and Wales. They loved Hawaii, and went several times, including one month on Oahu at the Ilakai. 

Mary Lou is survived by her four children: Randall (Nadine), Scott (Roxanne), Curt, and Sharon (Brian) Prindle; seven grandchildren: Erin Barbee, Rachel (Jeremy) Boyle, Matthew Barbee, Cheryl Faber (Chris Bradley), Karen Barbee (Josh Smith), Chris (Kiah) Prindle, and Anthony Barbee; eight great-grandchildren: Tyson (Kendall) and Auggie Fuss, Isabelle Boyle, Libby Faber and Nicolas Bradley, Ryker, Treyson, Kyser, Skyra Prindle, Maeve Barbee and Murphy Smith. She has been blessed to have most family members close by.  She was preceded in death by her husband, Chase; five siblings: George, Ed, Florence, Josephine and Rita Anne; and grandson, Alex. 

Services will be on Tuesday, December 17th at St. Mark’s Catholic Church. Mass will be celebrated at 10 AM followed by a Celebration of Life luncheon.  Mary Lou will be buried at 1 PM at the Idaho State Veterans Cemetery with Chase. Memorials can be made in Mary Lou’s name to St. Mark's Catholic Church in Boise Idaho. Services are under the care of Accent Funeral Home.