Barbara Mary Martin Dockery, age 92, passed away peacefully in her sleep on Wednesday, Sept. 7, 2011at the Kahl Home in Davenport, Iowa.
She was a community and church leader, a successful painter and poet, wife and loving mother and will be sorely missed by her many friends and a devoted family of 13 children, 32 grandchildren and 17 great-grandchildren.
Visitation will be held at Halligan McCabe DeVries Funeral Home on Sunday, September 11, 2011 from 4 – 8 p.m. The family invites you to join them in a rosary service on Sunday at 7:00pm, followed by a time of sharing memories of Barbara’s life. The funeral Mass of Christian Burial will be held at St. Paul the Apostle Catholic Church on Monday, September 12, 2011 at 10: 30am. Burial services will be at the National Cemetery, Rock Island Arsenal.
Barbara was born in Davenport, Iowa to Marcella (Costello) and Dr. John Martin on October 26, 1918. She attended St. Paul the Apostle Grade School, and is a 1936 graduate of Davenport Central High School and a 1937 graduate of Brown’s Business College. Upon graduation she worked for Northwest Bell Telephone Company for five years. She was an avid swimmer, bowler and golfer and was involved in many community activities including her volunteer work at local nursing homes.
After meeting James Thomas Dockery, Sr. at a dance at St. Ambrose College where James coached football and basketball, the two married on July 22, 1942, and together they raised 13 children in Davenport. Along with mothering her children, Barbara was an active member of St. Paul’s where she sang in the choir, was an organizer for the parish’s Block Rosaries and co-founder of Birthright of Davenport. Barbara and her husband, James started the first Christian Family Organization in Davenport, chairing the second national meeting and she was selected to be the main speaker at the third national meeting that was held at the University of Notre Dame.
Barbara was highly recognized for her participation and support of the arts in the Quad Cities and in the state of Iowa. Along with winning The Mary Collins Memorial Poetry and Gail Calmer Poetry awards, she founded and chaired the first Quint-City Poets Club and held poetry readings and workshops for many adults and students throughout the years. Her poems have been published in newspapers, newsletters and in such publications as the General Federation of Women’s Clubs, Creative Writings and Lyrical Iowa. She also self-published two editions of her own poetry. As a member of The Left Bank Art League, Artists Unlimited and Quad Cities Arts Council, her beautiful watercolor paintings have been recognized in numerous Davenport and Quad City shows and competitions.
Barbara strongly believed in the power of family. She took great pleasure in raising her 13 children, including daughters and sons-in-law, Eileen (John) Pappas, Denver; Mary (Greg) Huebner, Indianapolis; Marcy Dockery, San Francisco; Anne Marie Dockery and Becky Webster, Littleton, CO; Catherine Dockery, Littleton, CO; Elizabeth (Paul) Pesci, Elm Grove, WI; and sons and daughters-in-law James Jr. (Linda) Dockery, Bettendorf, IA; John (Christine) Dockery, Omaha, NE; Michael (Tricia) Dockery, Arlington Heights, IL; Dr. Joseph (MaryLynne) Dockery, Staunton, VA; Thomas Dockery, Chicago, IL; Peter (Bridgett) Dockery, Naperville, IL; and Stephen (Jill) Dockery, Clarendon Hills, IL.
Besides her beloved 32 grandchildren and 17 great-grandchildren, Barbara is survived by her three sisters and brother-in-law, Virginia (Jack) Barnard of Moline, IL, Jeanne Fuller, Denver, CO and Betty Hiegel, Claremont, CA and her brother Robert Martin, Mobile, AL. She was preceded in death by her husband, parents, brothers Father John Martin and Don Martin, sisters-in-law Elizabeth Martin and Marilyn Martin, and brothers-in-law Bill Hiegel and Harry (Bud) Fuller.
The Dockery family would like to express their grateful appreciation to the Sisters, staff and Fr. Joe Rogers of the Kahl Home for their loving care during Barbara’s illness and passing. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Kahl Home or Birthright of Davenport.
Online remembrances and condolences may be expressed by visiting Barbara’s obituary at www.hmdfuneralhome.com.
