Barry Sisters’ Legacy Honors Their Parents, Supports Students

Mary Ann Barry and Martha Barry ’74

Martha Barry '74 and Mary Ann Barry decided long ago that by honoring their parents, they could also help Mount Mercy University students in need.

In 2010, the Barry sisters worked to establish an endowed scholarship at Mount Mercy University to honor their
parents, Ray and Helen Barry. Even though Martha and Mary Ann make annual gifts in support of their scholarship, they also have included this scholarship in their estate plans.

"I enjoyed deciding what my priorities were, and my estate plan reflects that," Martha says. "I believe our
scholarship allows us to help educate and assist students, as well as thanking the Mercy Sisters and continuing their legacy by supporting something they started. As a teacher, you see how important assistance is in education, and I'm happy to be able to help with the financial piece." Mary Ann says she enjoyed her Mount Mercy classes
and met many longtime friends on campus.

"Mount Mercy has a good reputation and I want to help extend that," she says. "It's when I look back at when I
was growing up, it's then I decided that Mount Mercy is where I wanted to give."

An education is important to the Barry sisters, and their legacy reflects that. While both sisters feel a
sense of accomplishment with their estate plans, Martha says, the impact will be broader than the Mount Mercy hilltop.

"Education is good for the community," she says. "As I considered my estate plans, I reflected on not only a student's time on campus, but what happens after the student leaves and how that impacts the whole community."