Obituary of Ethel Louise LeBarron

Ethel Louise (Skelton) LeBarron, a longtime Burlington resident passed away on Thursday, February 9, 2023, at the Kaplan Family Hospice House in Danvers.  She was 84 years old.  Ethel was born in Lowell Massachusetts.  She was one of two daughters born to Louis and Esther Skelton.  The Skelton family is one of the older families to live in Burlington when it was just a farming community.  She grew up in Burlington and was a member of the Burlington High School Class of 1956.  The town, her childhood, friends, and the residents held a very special place in her heart.  She and her fellow classmates of 1956 worked to keep connected for the past 66 years.  They had formal reunions, weekends away, and even a trip to Branson Missouri.  Ethel was the treasurer for the class and part of the reunion committee. 

Ethel met her future husband Gary “Jerry” LeBarron when he was in the military. Jerry was stationed at Fort Devens and he was an avid roller skater, even being featured on TV.  He met Ethel at a Lowell skating rink. They became roller dancing partners and soon after, life partners, married in June of 1959. Jerry and Ethel traveled the world as Jerry was stationed at three different United States Embassies: Tehran, Iran, Bern Switzerland, and Bangkok, Thailand. He retired from the service in 1973 and they moved to Burlington to give their daughter Debbie a more stable life and to be closer to Ethel’s large family. 

Ethel enjoyed working with her hands and making arts and crafts.  She was so talented that she started a business called “The Silk Worm” where she made holiday wreaths, gifts baskets, and a wide variety of other crafts.  She had also worked at Epsilon in Burlington for almost 10 years as an administrative assistant.  Ethel had a wonderful life.  She had the opportunity to travel the world as a wife of a career Army Veteran.  She lived in exotic destinations, immersed herself in different cultures, and had countless memorable experiences.  But at the same time, she never lost her roots.  She was a “Burlington Girl”.  Burlington was her home.  She still had her childhood friends and new friends from Burlington.  She was part of Burlington’s history, and she was very proud to live most of her life in the community she loved.

Ethel was the beloved wife of the late Gary “Jerry” LeBarron.  She was the loving mother of Debra Ferragamo & her husband Anthony of Haverhill. She was the sister and best friend of Harriett Rice of Burlington & her late husband Larry. Ethel was the proud “Grammy” of Michael Ferragamo & his wife Kajsa of Ayer, David Ferragamo of Haverhill, and Renee Ferragamo of Haverhill & her boyfriend Nick Hurd.  She was the great grandmother of Axel and Charlotte Ferragamo.

Visiting hours will be held at the Edward V. Sullivan Funeral Home on Wednesday, February 15 from 5-7pm. and will conclude with a funeral service at the funeral home beginning at 7pm. The interment will be private. 

For obituary, online guestbook, & video tribute see www.sullivanfuneralhome.net