Barbara M. Gorman

Barbara M. Gorman died Nov. 19, 2012.

Gorman was born June 17, 1925 in the Village of Ballston Spa, N.Y., the fourth child of Fred and Mary (Jones) Armer.

She graduated from Ballston Spa High School and continued her education with many non-credit courses and classes during much of her life.

She was married in a Roman Catholic ceremony on Oct. 24, 1948 to John L. Gorman. A year later, the couple moved to southern California and resided there until they moved to St. George, Utah in 1999. John Gorman was ordained a permanent deacon in 2000.

"Deacon’s wives play a major role in their husbands’ ministry," said Deacon Forrest Gray, coordinator for continuing deacon formation in the Diocese of Salt Lake City. "Barbara had been bedridden for several years – good reason for the deacon not to do anything but take care of his wife, and she insisted that he serve. Every year, she would let him come up to Salt Lake City to the spiritual conference, which is a three-day event, and make arrangements that she could be taken care of because she could not leave the house. He would call her every night and kind of sing her a lullaby. They were a very sweet couple."

During her working career while in New York, Gorman held secretarial jobs at General Electric Corp in Schenectady NY and for the Boy Scouts of America in her home town. After moving to southern California, she was the executive secretary to the director of medical and insurance for an aerospace manufacturing corporation.

Gorman was a convert to Catholicism after her marriage and was involved in many services to the church schools, projects and other activities, where she usually served in leadership positions.

She loved and played the game of contract bridge, approaching it with her thoughtful and analytical style until failing eyesight caused her to stop playing.

Barbara is survived by her husband of 64 years, Deacon John (Jack) Gorman; her son, David P. Gorman and his wife, Mary, of Albuquerque, N.M.; many nieces, nephews and friends spread throughout the United States who will miss her.

Preceding her in death were her parents, two brothers and two sisters.

A funeral Mass was celebrated Nov. 23 at Saint George Catholic Church.