Martha Barrick

Martha Barrick was born on February 11, 1936, in Seymour, Texas. She went home to be with the Lord on Monday, January 17, 2022, just shy of her 86th birthday. She married the love of her life, Bill Barrick Jr., on June 6, 1954, the day after Martha’s high school graduation. In 1972, Bill and Martha moved to New Mexico to become house parents at the New Mexico Boys Ranch. They spent five years as house parents, and then they became the cooks for the ranch, cooking and serving two meals a day, six days a week, for 80 people, for 22 years. While at the Boy’s Ranch, Martha cooked for movie stars, corporate executives, and even the Governor of New Mexico. She finished out her career at the New Mexico Boy’s Ranch working in the main office. It would be hard to measure Martha’s impact on so many lives at the Boy’s Ranch. She taught the boys how to cook, clean, sew, and make ceramics.

After retiring, Bill and Martha moved to Conroe, Texas, where they put down roots and became involved in their community and church. Martha became the cook for First Baptist Church and served there for many years. She was also a proud member of the Happy Strings Band at FBC Conroe, where she and Bill participated in weekly visits to various area nursing homes and care facilities. She became known as the lady who walked the “Gooney Bird” puppets at the closing songs. She also served as a volunteer receptionist at the Family Promise homeless shelter. Martha collected and prepared materials to make bed mats for the homeless. Martha never met a stranger; she was a friend to all and was always ready to help others.

She is survived by her loving husband William (Bill) Barrick Jr., her sister Melba Morgan, her son Bill Barrick and wife Alisa, her son Don Barrick and wife Cindy, grandsons Taylor Barrick and wife Nadene, Jonathan Barrick and wife Rebecca, Jordan Barrick and wife Caitlyn, David Barrick, and her only granddaughter Stephanie Barrick, great grandchildren Elam and Emory Barrick, Cora and Ezra Barrick, and numerous nieces and nephews.