Obituary of Mary Katherine Barnes Miller

Mary Katherine Barnes Miller MARY KATHARINE BARNES MILLER October 8, 1913 – February 23, 2014 Mary Katharine Barnes Miller was born October 8, 1913, in Buckhannon, West Virginia, the daughter of Otho Herbert Barnes and Cora Anne Miller Barnes. She passed away peacefully of age related causes while under 24-hour care in her Village Senior Residence apartment in Missoula, Montana, on Sunday afternoon, February 23, 2014. Mary Katharine was preceded in death by her parents, a brother, Otho Russell Barnes, a sister, Virginia Lee Barnes, and her husband, Carroll E. Miller. Prior to her father’s death at the age of 51, he was the owner and editor of “The Republican-Delta,” newspaper in Buckhannon. The bright wit and sharp, inquiring mind enjoyed by Mary Katharine during her entire life can be attributed to her father, Otho Herbert Barnes. Mary Katharine’s grandfather owned the Tyler County (WV) Star, and died when Mary Katharine’s father, Otho, was only 16. At this youthful age, her father shouldered the responsibility of editing and managing the Tyler County Star. Her father continued in newspaper work, subsequently acquiring ownership of the Buckhannon Delta in 1920, which was merged with the Upshur Republican in 1929. While he never attended college, his education exceeded in many ways that of those who had received many degrees. Mary Katharine’s father prided himself in knowing all 2000 of his subscribers by their first names. And he could remember within a week or two the expiration dates of their subscriptions. He never wrote an editorial. He just sat down at the linotype machine and set his thoughts into type. His editorial work was so accurate that it was seldom necessary to proof read his copy. This remarkable mental acuity and recall was one of Mary Katharine’s inherited traits that contributed so much to her leadership success throughout her lifetime. Mary Katharine was the first of two West Virginians to serve two years as International President of the General Federation of Women’s Clubs (GFWC), which was founded in 1890, and Chartered by the 56th United States Congress in 1901. Her GFWC activities began in 1944 when she joined the Philippi, West Virginia Woman’s Club. She later served as the president of that club and held Central District offices in the West Virginia Federation of Women’s Clubs, including its state presidency. Mary Katharine was a Life Member of the Woman’s Club of Missoula, Montana as well as the Woman’s Club of Charleston, West Virginia. She was the 30th International President and Chief Executive Officer of GFWC and the theme of her tenure was, “Sea to Shining Sea – Unity.” She resided at the GFWC Headquarters in Washington, DC from 1974-1976. At the time of Mary Katharine’s presidency, the GFWC was the largest organization of women volunteers in the world. It currently has over 100,000 members in affiliated clubs in every state and more than a 20 countries and territories. During Mary Katharine’s tenure the GFWC Bylaws were completely revised at the 1975 convention without a single dissenting vote. In an effort to instill a pride of country and a rekindling of the wondrous “Spirit of ’76,” Mary Katharine’s immediate predecessor, Mrs. Gladys Haugan, and Mary Katharine commissioned a series of four exquisite Official GFWC United States of America Bicentennial Commemorative Plates. Each plate had a different patriotic theme - the first of which was issued on January 1, 1973 and the last one on January 1, 1976. Representatives in each state, known as “Mary Katharine’s Bicentennial Belles,” assisted with this project. The four molds for these plates were broken on July 4, 1976, the 200th birthday of the Nation, at Independence Hall in Philadelphia by Gladys and Mary Katharine. Mary Katharine’s comment about this momentous event was, “What a day!” The 1976 GFWC Convention was also held in Philadelphia. Though there previously had never been more than 2000 clubwomen at an international convention, Mary Katharine presided over the largest convention ever held, with nearly 3000 members in attendance. Mary Katharine’s major concern regarding the event was, “… the difficulty seating so many and a shortage of the beautifully designed patriotic programs and materials.” President Gerald Ford invited the heads of many organizations of women to meet with him at the White House as he planned the continuance of government after President Nixon’s resignation. Representing the largest organization of women, Mary Katharine was seated next to President Ford and was invited to make the opening remarks. She recalls, “Rarely at a loss for words, I responded while sitting in the chair marked Secretary of State.” Mary Katharine was an Organizing Regent of the John Minear Chapter of the Daughter’s of the American Revolution (DAR) at Philippi and a member of the Elizabeth Zane Chapter of the DAR at Buckhannon, West Virginia. At one time she also served as state Recording Secretary and as the National Vice Chairman of the DAR. In 1976 she was recognized as DAR Daughter of the Year by the West Virginia Society of Washington, DC. She was also a charter member of the Josha Jones Chapter of the Daugthers of 1812 in West Virginia. For 25 years Mary Katharine was employed by the Myers Remedy Company (Modern Drugs, Inc.) of Philippi, West Virginia. She resigned her position as office manager for this company in 1958 to become the first woman executive assistant and public relations representative for the West Virginia State Insurance Department in Charleston, WV. Later she was associated with Advertising, Inc., a Charleston public relations firm. For ten years she also held a second position as a news reporter for the Clarksburg Telegram and Clarksburg Exponent newspapers in Clarksburg, WV. On June 15, 1963, Mary Katharine married Carroll Edward Miller, a long time chemistry teacher at Sentinel and Hellgate High Schools in Missoula, Montana. She resided in Missoula from 1963 until her death except for the two years when she held the GFWC International Presidency in Washington, DC. Carroll, died March 9, 1990, just a few months after they had moved to the new Village Senior Residence retirement facility as charter member residents. For fifteen years Mary Katharine also worked five days each week as an administrative volunteer at the Community Medical Center, a Missoula hospital located adjacent to her home in the Village Senior Residence. When she retired, she had contributed over 6500 hours of volunteer time. Mary Katharine was a major supporter of the Missoula Children’s Theatre. When the theatre was first built, she donated funds in memory of her husband, Carroll, to pay for two dressing rooms and for the facility’s complete sound system. She also created an endowment fund for the Missoula International Choral Festival as a memorial for her husband. This festival was begun by the Mendelssohn Club, a Missoula men’s vocal group, of which her husband was a charter member. Though Mary Katharine was active in many things throughout her life, her first concern was always for her family. Her father’s early death of heart failure occurred just months after her graduation from high school in 1930. Following graduation she attended business school in Clarksburg and then moved to Philippi and commenced her employment with the Myers Remedy Company. At this point she assumed responsibility for the support of her mother and younger sister, which continued during their lifetimes. No challenge was too large or two small for Mary Katharine. Against almost insurmountable odds, she went from being the family’s primary breadwinner as a young girl, to the International Presidency of one of the largest women’s organizations in the world - the General Federation of Women’s Clubs. Enjoying a good sense of humor, she is still remembered for wearing a large hat around Charleston, which was adorned with strings of battery-operated lights. This was to draw attention to her “Safe Streets” initiative and to encourage improved street lighting in the city. She also attended Clown School one summer at Alderson-Broaddus College in Philippi to expand her many talents. Mary Katharine Barnes Miller was the last of her immediate family. She leaves a number of distant cousins around the U.S. as well as numerous friends across Montana, West Virginia and America. She loved her trips to the Stage Station Restaurant on Rock Creek east of Missoula where she and her husband used to go fishing. She especially treasured The Village Senior Residence staff who provided a home for her for so many years, and she was particularly appreciative of the Hospice of Missoula and Village personnel who cared for her so tenderly during her final weeks. Mary Katharine’s longevity can be tributed to her long daily walks and her special relationship with God. She maintained a lengthy prayer list of those for whom she held in continuous prayer. This remained her mission in life as her physical abilities became increasingly limited. Her favorite hymn was “HOW GREAT THOU ART “… in gratitude for the blessings I have enjoyed from God over the years …” At Mary Katharine’s request, there will be no local memorials and her ashes will be interred in the family plot next to the graves of her parents, her brother and her sister at the Old Heavner Cemetery in Buckhannon, West Virginia, on Saturday, June 7, 2014 at 10:30 AM . A public graveside service will be held at that time with a reception following at the 88 Restaurant, 88 E. Main Street, Buckhannon. Arrangements are under the care of Livingston-Malletta and Geraghty Funeral Home of Missoula, MT and Poling-St. Clair Funeral Home of Buckhannon, WV. Graveside Memorial Service Saturday, June 7, 2014 10:30 AM Heavner Cemetery