Born Marilyn Zimmerman on July 19, 1935, in St Louis, Missouri, she attended Visitation High School. She went on to the University of Missouri-Columbia and became an Alpha Gamma Delta member. She received her degree in Physical Education. After graduation, on November 2, 1957, she married her college sweetheart, Jesse G. Maize, who survives her. They spent the first four years of married life fulfilling Jesse’s military service commitment in the Navy. They were stationed at several Naval Air Stations over the next four years, all along the eastern seaboard. While Jesse was deployed, Marilyn passed the time teaching school and giving swimming lessons to children. They returned to the Kansas City area to start a family and make their permanent home. Marilyn is survived by her daughter Robbin M. Gardner and her son Mark R. Maize. She has four grandchildren, Sidney, Johnny, Jessica, and Taylor.
Marilyn enjoyed working with people and loved to stay involved. She always had a part-time job to insure she was busy. She was a substitute teacher, a swimming instructor at the YMCA, a car salesman, a computer saleswoman, a High School tennis coach, as well as a travel agent. When her aging parents required in-home health care, Marilyn started Elder Care of Kansas City, an in-home health care agency. She ran Elder Care full time from 1987 until 2016, when she retired at the age of 80.
Marilyn attended St Peter’s Episcopal Church, where she was a member of the Vestry and sang in the Choir for over thirty years. She was well known throughout the area as an avid tennis player and golfer. She belonged to numerous clubs where she played both sports. Her family have many fond memories of playing both golf and tennis with Marilyn, sometimes winning but more often losing to her competitive spirit. She will be greatly missed by her family and friends.
A memorial service will be held at St. Peter’s and All Saints Episcopal Church at 5:30 p.m. on Wednesday, June 23rd. The church is located at 100 E. Red Bridge Road, Kansas City, Missouri, 64114.
