Marie T. “Maureen” Stark, of Carolina Beach, died peacefully Thursday, Aug. 6, 2015, at Autumn Care in Myrtle Grove. She was 77.
Born Sept. 25, 1937, in County Cork, Ireland, she was the daughter of the late David and Constance O’Connor Barry.
Raised as an Irish Catholic by French nuns, she came to America after college to teach school in Chicago. She then moved to San Francisco, taught school and later managed Drake International, a temporary service agency in Silicon Valley, where she was named one of the top 10 managers in the world.
Maureen loved to cook and was a member of American Wine and Food. She was a friend of Julia Child and many other outstanding chefs. She had that sweet, charming Irish smile and wit, and she sang descant soprano in church and elsewhere. She had a wonderful way with all children, dogs, cats and people.
She attended Immaculate Conception Catholic Church and Basilica Shrine of St. Mary Catholic Church. She loved to play golf and loved to “never pay retail” at department stores. Maureen lived and traveled across the U.S. and finally lived on a boat in Carolina Beach.
In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her sister, brother and first husband, James Murray.
She is survived by her husband of 38 years, Gene V. Stark; brothers, Bill and his wife, Betty and Ray and his wife, Marie; children, Elizabeth, Valerie, Marie and David Murray; grandchildren, Joe, Christina and Kalie; and great-granddaughter, Emily.
In Mr. Stark’s family, she was preceded in death by Gene’s mother, father, sister and his son, John, and is survived by daughters, Sherri and Patricia; son, William; grandchildren, Kate, Dan, Brian and Steven; and numerous extended family members.
A celebration of life will be held at 2 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 13, 2015, at Andrews Mortuary, Valley Chapel, 4108 S. College Road in Wilmington.
Memorial donations may be made in Maureen’s name to the Salvation Army, 223 South Third St., Wilmington, NC 28401.
Please leave online condolences for the family at Andrews Mortuary.
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