Mary Robbins Barker

Mary (Robbins) Barker peacefully passed away at her home on March 21, 2023.

Born on October 22, 1942 to Gust and Melva Georgelas Kouris, Mary grew up with her sisters, Charlene, Helen, and Theano in a loving household surrounded by her immediate and large extended family. This loving environment forged the fiercely devoted wife, mother, Yiayia (grandmother), and Aunt that would define her entire adult life.

Mary graduated from South High School in 1960 and attended classes at the University of Utah.  While there, she joined the Phi Mu sorority where she made several lifetime friends.  

In 1962, she married Gaylen Robbins and together they had two sons, David and Michael. In 1980, Gaylen, suddenly and unexpectedly passed away and Mary was catapulted into the role of single mother of two adolescent boys. With the support of her loving family, she worked full-time at Brighton Bank and created a household filled with love and laughter.  Her sons never went without.  She never missed a baseball, basketball, or football game, and the house she loved so dearly was always pure perfection.  Late nights spent doing laundry, paying bills, and cleaning were the norm. However, her story was not one of exhaustion or pain, but rather was one of laughter and love. Her home was filled with friends of her sons at all times of year, and many still remember her well.  Her humor and personality were legendary, and she had a powerful presence that could fill any room. She could be heard at ball games making crazy comments, showing up in Halloween masks, and creating more fun in the stands than on the field. More than once, the moniker “Crazy Mary” was uttered with love and appreciation.  She supported her sons through High School and into University (Go Utes), where they both received advanced graduate degrees with her diligent support.

In 1989, she married Gary Barker and started a new chapter filled with love, excitement, and grandchildren.  She relished her role as Yiayia and together with her loving partner (Papou Gary) they showered their grandchildren with everything they had to offer.

 Unforgettable vacations, family outings, and Christmas and Easter mornings filled with so many presents (and always the same number and amount of boxes for every child) that the kids were exhausted from opening them.  Her love of children was legendary.  Anyone who knew her and had children loved to have her around.  Mary would do anything to get a laugh, especially from children.  She led the singing of carols at the family Christmas party, and she enlisted every young one she met into her world of naughty words (always with that gleam in her eye).

Mary had many joys.  She loved to gamble, golf, watch her Beloved Utes and Packers, and talk about Elvis.  Weekend trips, golf outings, or dinner with friends were always filled with her love and laughter.  

Mary is survived by her husband Gary, her two sons, David (Lisa) and Michael (Mindy), stepdaughters, Cami (Jonas) and Marnie (Hayden); grandchildren (Taylor, Trace, Adam, Ethan, and Tyler Robbins; Kaeli (Carson) Buckley; Celia, Hudson, and Jada Catterton; Amelia Andrews) and great grandchildren (Cove and Echo Buckley); her sister Theano (Val) Pantone, and many amazing nieces and nephews.  

She was preceded in death by her husband Gaylen Robbins, her parents; her sisters Charlene (Tom) Polychronis and Helen Dikeou; and nephews, Kyle Polychronis, Ted Dikeou, and Sammy Soter.

The viewing is Sunday March 26, 2023 at 6:00pm-8pm.
The funeral will be Monday March 27, 2023, 12 noon.
Both the viewing and funeral will take place at St. Anna's Greek Orthodox Church, 9201 S.1300 E, Sandy, Utah 84094.

Interment at Mt Olivet Cemetery followed by a late lunch and makaria at St Anna’s. All who knew Mary are invited.

In lieu of flowers:  https://give.primarychildrenshospital.org/give/395838/#!/donation/checkout?c_src=pchomepage&c_src2=pchomepage