Marilyn Moore Janz

Along with her twin sister, Marilyn Moore Janz was born to Martha Dee Schoolcraft on April 16th, 1930 in Danville, Illinois and was adopted with her sister, Betty, by Hal and Amanda Hillman in Portland, OR. shortly thereafter.

Marilyn and Betty were raised together in NE Portland by Amanda and Hal and attended Grants and Washington High Schools. Hal, a veteran of WWI, owned a Studebaker dealership in Portland and died unexpectedly in 1949 at age 56.

Before his death, Hal and Amanda purchased two cabins in Ocean Park, WA, the Twins and Gay cabins where they rented rooms to tourists and where, as young girls, Marilyn and Betty grew to love life along the southern Washington coast. This, beginning a legacy of family and friends who have come to share this deep connection with the area to this day. Marilyn will be laid to rest next to Lyle in the Ocean Park Cemetery.

The Twins moved to Eugene to attend the University of Oregon in 1948 where they both pledged the Kappa Kappa Gamma sorority and later were cheerleaders for the U of O football team. Photos and newspaper articles of the time featured the Hillman Twins predominantly due to their natural beauty and engaging smiles. Their years at the U of O became foundational to their identity and future.

Marilyn Hillman met Lyle Janz Jr. at the U of O and they were married August 18, 1951. They lived in Lorado, TX during Lyle’s years of service in the Air Force. Then, returning to Portland to have their first child, Kathy Simmons Janz who was born in 1956 and now lives in Philadelphia with her husband, Curt. Their second, Robert Hillman Janz was born in 1961 and lives in Portland. Lyle and Marilyn raised their family in the same Portland home overlooking the Willamette River where Lyle was raised. They worked together at the Main Branch of the US Bank in Portland for some time and Marilyn volunteered with the Junior League in addition to raising a family. They enjoyed many hours spent with several close friends in Portland and Ocean Park, later buying a home in Palm Springs where many memories were created as well.

Marilyn’s sister, Betty was married to Rod Slade in 1951 who Betty also met at the University of Oregon. Rod and Betty had 4 sons who would return to Ocean Park regularly. The two sisters shared a connection that only identical twins can understand. Marilyn suffered the loss of Betty to cancer in 1990. Betty is survived by two sons Terry and Dwight Slade.

Marilyn created a rare relationship with her husband of 69 years, Lyle Jr. who died from cancer in 2020. The two shared a bond of loyalty and unspoken affection that was obvious and endearing.

Marilyn had a rare ability to connect with those around her, endlessly welcoming and curious about your story. Marilyn was also strong-willed, a 4-time cancer survivor, surviving the loss of Betty and then Lyle before succumbing to dementia at 95. She is survived by Kathy, Robert, grandchildren Alex, Michael and Xiu Lian and great-grandchildren Benjamin, Harlow, Miles, Nolan and Chloe who will carry her spirit into the future.

Documents show that Marilyn and Betty’s birth family from Danville, Illinois suffered the loss of Betty and Marilyn, originally named Martha Jean and Mary Jane and though Betty tried, she was unable to find them during her lifetime. Their birthmother was Martha Dee Schoolcraft born in 1914, died, Martha Dee Harding in Beaverton OR. She married Arlo Harding in Oregon in 1933. She died in 2000 and is buried in SW Portland.

Open Service will be held at:

The Mirabella - Willamette Room

Friday September 12th, 2pm – 4pm

3550 S. Bond St., Portland, OR 97329 (503)688-6400

Burial Ceremony will be held at:

Ocean Park Cemetery

Saturday September 13th, 1pm

2118 260th St, Ocean Park, WA 98640

Donations in remembrance of Marilyn may be made to either:

Pathway Oregon Scholarship Program Duck Athletic Fund

Found here: giving.uoregon.edu

Or: University of Oregon Foundation Gift Services

1720 E. 13th Avenue, Ste 410

Eugene, OR 97403

(541)302-0337

Crossing The Bar

Sunset and evening star,

And on clear call for me!

And may there be no moaning of the bar,

When I put out to sea,

But such a tide as moving seems asleep,

Too full for sound and foam,

When that which drew from out the boundless sleep,

Turns again home.

Twilight and evening bell,

And after that dark!

And may there be no sadness of farewell,

When I embark;

For tho’ from out our bourne of Time and Place

The flood may bear me far,

I hope to see my Pilot face to face

When I crost the bar.

Alfred, Lord Tennyson