Marilyn Wherry

Her life in her own words: orphanage, sports, singing, deep voice, stubborn, fist-fights, strong physically but immature, bouncing around various homes with social worker, “bad-girls school”, May Queen, first in family to graduate high school, Vista, Montgomery Ward, Cabrini-Green projects, The Place, Aaron, Kathleen, Leave Chicago for Kansas, Jesus, Juvenile Detention, growth, Matt visits often, soccer, baseball and football games for kids, families coming along-side her walk, hugs, reading Bible daily, JCCC, received her AA degree, friends, coaching baseball for Aaron, screaming like crazy at soccer games, more Jesus, sanding and staining house trim, smoking, journaling, growing, friends, hugs, Jesus, Grandbabies!, her mom moves to KS, unexpected love for her mother is there, hugs, Quit Smoking, mom moves in with her, bickering but still growing, Bible, she retires from Juvenile Detention after 28 years and touching the lives of 7-8000 youth, hugs, moves into Liberty Christian Life Center to volunteer around there, more grandbabies, more Jesus, hugs, more Bible, friends, softer heart, Great grandbabies!, hugs, move in with Kathleen and John, talked about her 1000 generations, Freedom Fighters, hugs, body wearing out, dialysis, friends, joy, Raquel, managing her care, hugs, praying with everyone she talks to, joyful, a fighter, strong, wants to stick around to love on one more person, hugs, Jesus.

Her final words were to Shelby Corrales teasing him, “Come on, Mare!” she said. (when Shelby was in grade school, he used to think Marilyn was at his house for him and was his playmate…not there for his mom, Marcia. He would always say while pulling her hand, “Come on, Mare.”).

Marilyn was the mother to Aaron and Kathleen; sister to Ray (Richard), Matt, David, and Joseph; daughter to Eileen and Edward; grandmother to Whitney, Aron, Tanner, Izak, Stephanie, Malachi, and Raquel; great grandmother so far to Lance, Elijah, Leona, Emilia; Lierra, Skylar, Jace, Nikolas, Aerith, Lightlynn; Chloe; Paitin, Paislee, Espin, Kinslee, Izak JR.; Lily, Daisy…, aunt to many; cousin to many; and friend to all she met except bill collectors and telemarketers…she didn’t want to meet them!

Marilyn’s many influential families: Rowden, Readman, Corrales, McCall, Wherry, Beck, Storms, Poyner, Maxwell, Ager, Postlewait, Riblett, Keeton, Esely, Marchi, Kinsella, Wisdom, Moore, Hopkins, Pitts, Davidson, Mayfield, Hawkins, Person, Wirtz, Arthur, Hartford, Giesler, Sister Loretta, Triplett, Berroya, Forshey, Gregg, Manning, Pagano…

A huge thank you to Virginia Little, aka Aunt Ginny (now deceased), for allowing Marilyn to bring her two children to Kansas to get on her feet so that her children could grow up outside of Chicago gangs. 

Her funeral will be held Saturday, February 22, 2025, from 2-4pm at Liberty Christian Life Center located at 572 E. Park Street Olathe, KS 66061 with a cookies and drink fellowship after. Parking is very limited but you may park on both sides of Park Street, on one side of Buchanan and Cooper Streets. IF YOU have a HANDICAPPED permit, you may park on the circle drive for this event only. Do not block the main door entrance, please.

In lieu of flowers, please donate to Liberty Christian Life Center 572 E. Park Street Olathe, KS 66061 in Marilyn's name or in the family's name.  Thank you.