Barbara Ann Dutro-Maher

Obituary for Barbara Ann Dutro-Maher

Barbara Ann Dutro-Maher, loving mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, and passionate Spurs fan, passed away Sunday, February 5, 2017 at age 75. She was born on February 14, 1941 in Hungry Horse, Montana.

She is preceded in death by her mother Marguerite Ridenour and father, Bryant Ridenour, her brothers, Mike Young, Paul Ridenour, and Carl Ridenour, and her beloved grandparents, Katherine and Fred Dutro.

She is beloved and missed by her three children, Tamera Clemts (Dan), Patrick Maher, and Désirée Carrola (John), siblings, Betty Vickaryous, Kelli Ridenour-Brown, Ruth McCallum, Cathy Ridenour, Deanna Ridenour, Mary Kaye Starkey, Sandi Hartsock, Eddie Ridenour, as well as her 5 grandchildren, Rob Stapley (Jerilyn), Reanna Howard (Mike), Maryann Holt (Bo), Ptolemy Carrola, and soon to be born, newest grandchild, Wren Esmée Carrola. Her spirit will live on in her 8 great-grandchildren, AJ, Seth, and Capri Stapley, Taylor Howard, Kaydyn Brown, Alena, Lucas, and Brooklyn Holt and numerous other family members and friends. Barbara, will also be missed by Pepper Jack, her beloved border collie/shepard grand-dog who she helped raise from a newborn puppy.

A gifted school teacher, Barbara, was most passionate about lifting every child up so that they could achieve their highest potential. During her more than 20 years as an educator, she taught at St. Jude’s School in Wichita, Kansas, and at several schools in San Antonio including Providence High School, St. Gregory the Great, and St. Peter, Prince of the Apostles. Although she taught religious studies and 3rd grade primarily, Barbara, often reached beyond her traditional role and acted as a mentor to her students both inside and outside the classroom. She was known for helping students who had difficulty with penmanship, reading, or behavior and was often able to help them transform into highly capable and successful students. Barbara also spent many years moonlighting as a nanny and continued to have a special impact on children from all over the world. The young souls she touched are undoubtedly as numerous as the stars in the heavens.

Her love of nature, US History, literature, the Spurs, Coach Pop and Timmy, her beloved “Cubbies”, and Harry Potter, will always be fondly remembered and sorely missed. She was loving, patient, funny, and could always be counted on for an excellent conversation. She had strong opinions and was not afraid to express them. She was profoundly patriotic and never missed an opportunity to vote or thank those in uniform for their service. Barbara would often say she had no desire to travel abroad when there were so many beautiful places in the United States to see. Taking this to heart, during her life she lived in Idaho, Montana, Washington, Alaska, California, Kansas, and Texas.

Beloved Mama, Mrs. Maher, Barbie, Grandma, Grandy, our love for you is enduring and we give thanks for the gift we were given in you and all you’ve done and will continue to do for us. Always. May you rest in eternal peace.

“To have been loved so deeply, even though the person who loved us is gone, will give us some protection forever.”