She was born in Plattsburgh, NY on September 27, 1930, to Dr. Orley John “O.J.” and Catherine (Smith) Mayfield. Her family moved to Charles City, IA, when she was a small child and where she graduated from high school. She married Bentley E. DeMars on May 6, 1951 in Charles City. During their fifty-nine years of marriage, they moved to Texas, Iowa, Georgia, Minnesota, back to Iowa and finally back to Texas again. In addition to raising their family, she worked for Super Valu in Hopkins, MN, as a laboratory technician in the quality control department; and later Farm Bureau in Des Moines, IA, preparing tax returns for farmers.
During retirement, she invited her grandchildren to their farm in Winterset to fly kites, catch fireflies and barn cats, pick black raspberries and apples, play golf and learn to drive the garden tractor.
Marilyn is survived by children: Jannine Cody, Christine (Jon) Victorsen, Paul (Lari) DeMars and Lisa DeMars; seven grandchildren, and five great-grandchildren. She is predeceased by her parents and her siblings: John Mayfield, Betty Sogard and Kathy Beninga; and sister-in-law Phyllis McCall.
Memorials preferred to Chromosome 18 Registry and Research Society (founded to help her granddaughter, Elizabeth, and any other children worldwide with this condition), 7155 Oakridge, San Antonio, TX 78229.
