Marilyn Lawson was a grade behind me in school, but we farm girls rode the same bus through high school. She was Cousin Judy’s seatmate, but when basketball season arrived, Judy and my seatmate (Emily Nevitt) stayed for practice, so Marilyn and I shared a bus seat.
We were both members of the Penn Gwens 4-H club and did at least two demonstrations together (one giving us a chance to do it at the 1962 Waterloo Dairy Cattle Congress.).
Both of us were in the French horn section of the Earlham band.
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After high school, Marilyn and I were mainly “Christmas card friends” for a few decades, but when she returned to Iowa, she not only became a beta reader for the first two “Leora books,” she also hosted me for two book clubs (at Dexter and Minburn).
I knew that Marilyn was a polio survivor but she never talked about it during our growing up days. Years later she wrote a book about the experience for her children and grandchildren. Both the Dexter Museum and the Dexter Library have a copy of it, called My Mean Mom, because of the arduous physical therapy they endured after weeks in the hospital.
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Marilyn shared her polio journey as part of the Senior Speaker Series in Earlham, and was a finalist at the the 2021 Our American Stories event in Des Moines.
Marilyn often shared cheerful stories on Facebook about their too-active dog Skippy, piano pieces, and even her early attempts with her new marimba. I miss those.
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How I’ll miss this delightful and generous friend.
Marilyn’s obituary.
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The eternal God is your refuge, and underneath are the everlasting arms. – Deuteronomy 33:27
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I’m so sorry to hear of the loss of your friend, Joy. I remember you’ve written about her before.
Thank you, Liz. Her parents lived into their 90s.
You’re welcome, Joy.
Liz, this arrived in my inbox with no text. Did yours have text with it?
That’s odd. The text I sent was “You’re welcome, Joy.”
I’m getting feedback fine, but I “subscribed” to my posts so I could see how they show up in inboxes. This one showed up with only the photos and links, but no text!
I have no idea!
Peace be with you
Thank you, Annette.
I’m sorry for your loss of your friend, Joy.
Thank you, Kellye.
I’m sorry to hear of your friend’s passing, Joy. Life is so hard sometimes. Hugs.
Thank you, Lauren.
I too am sorry for your loss, Joy. It must have been such a delight to reconnect with Marilyn decades later! Shared memories create strong bonds between friends. May those memories now offer comfort.
Thank you, Nancy.
She was a wonderful person who will live on within all who knew her.
I learned even more at the funeral, especially from a man Marilyn fairly “adopted” after he was an exchange 4-Her from Costa Rica decades ago. Even by her folks, who also traveled with Marilyn to Costa Rica to meet his family.