Marilyn Grooms

Marilyn Grooms Marilyn Grooms departed this life Friday, July 18, in Bad Aibling, Germany following a courageously intense but brief battle with melanoma. The recurrence of Marilyn’s melanoma was diagnosed on March 25 of this year. Following treatment in Houston and Austin, Marilyn traveled to Bad Aibling on June 21 for treatment at the St. George Hospital. Marilyn was a wonderful and loving friend, sister, aunt, godmother, and co-worker. She put others first and was always selflessly available to assist others in time of need. All who knew Marilyn valued her friendship, eccentricities, and strength of character. She always strived for the highest standards in her life and her work. For those who loved and treasured Marilyn, life as they have known it will never be the same. Marilyn was truly one of a kind, and her like will not pass our way again. Marilyn loved engaging in discussions of politics and history, was fascinated by the possibility of extraterrestrials and UFOs (she never missed Art Bell), and passionately enjoyed purchasing and sharing books of many varied subjects with her friends and acquaintances (just sharing them, not reading them herself). She was an enthusiastic collector of angel figurines and placed particular emphasis on their proper arrangement and display. For several years, she was a season ticketholder to the Broadway series at the Bass Hall Performing Arts Center. She loved and was captivated by all animals, both domestic and wild. Her cats, Daphne and Mr. Daisy, were a particular joy to her (she was one of the few who had an invisible fence around her property for the cats), and she was an avid dog sitter for her beloved Mr. Woo. Marilyn and her identical twin, Carolyn, were born on December 18, 1947, in Brownwood, Texas. While growing up on a ranch/farm with her three brothers and twin sister, Marilyn enjoyed working the cows, riding horses, and driving a combine to harvest oats and wheat. At the age of 8, one of her favorite pastimes was driving the family car down the country road to visit her grandmother. Her twin sister and youngest brother were frequent unwilling accomplices on these daily visits. Marilyn graduated from Brownwood High School in 1965 where she was a member of the drill team, the future nurses chapter, and the high school newspaper staff. In 1965 she enrolled in Texas Woman’s University in Denton. While attending TWU, she was selected as Who’s Who Among Students in American Universities. She graduated in 1969 with a bachelor of science degree in Social Work. After graduating, she lived in Dallas for a year before moving to Austin in 1970. In 1976, she graduated with highest honors from the University of Texas at Austin with a bachelor of science degree in nursing. While attending UT, she was recognized as an Outstanding Student by the Cactus Yearbook and was a member of Mortar Board. In 1980, she graduated from the University of Texas at Austin with a master of science degree in psychiatric nursing. Marilyn’s professional career spanned 33 years. Her nursing career included staff nurse in the Intensive Care Unit of Brackenridge Hospital, camp nurse at Camp Longhorn, work as a pediatric private duty nurse, staff nurse at the University of Texas Student Health Center, staff and charge nurse at St. David’s Hospital Medical Center, and for the last several years, she held various positions with the Austin State Hospital. Marilyn became interested in holistic health in 1976 and was a founding member of the American Holistic Nurses’ Association, South Central Regional Director of that association and was a workshop speaker and editorial board member of the Journal of Holistic Nursing. She was a member of the Nurse Healers Professional Associates Cooperative, a founding member of the Association for Holistic Health in San Diego, California, and a founding vice president for the Austin Area Holistic Health Association. Marilyn operated Healthy Quarters (formerly Colonic Irrigations for Health) from 1981 to the present and the Healthy Quarters Bed & Breakfast until March of this year. Her professional affiliations and activities included the Austin Chamber of Commerce, the Texas Hotel and Motel Association, the International Association for Colon Hydrotherapy, and the Association for Research and Enlightenment. Marilyn’s religious affiliation was the I AM Activity in which she was an active member for several years. Marilyn is survived by her three brothers and their families: Randall and Henrietta Grooms of Tyler and their three children, Randy, Tawnya, and Twila; Dwayne and Barbara Grooms of Brownwood and their son, David; and Marcus Grooms of Austin. She is also survived by her twin sister and her family, Carolyn and John Sears of Costa Mesa, California, and Carolyn’s children, Andrea and Philip. In addition, Marilyn is survived by many other beloved relatives and friends. A memorial service will be held at 2:00 pm, Friday, July 25, 2003, at Weed Corley-Fish Funeral Home, 3125 North Lamar, with the Reverend Lenore Scott, Unity Church of the Hills, officiating. Following the service, friends are invited to share memories of Marilyn at her favorite breakfast venue, La Madeleine, 3418 North Lamar. A private memorial service will be held on Sunday, July 27, in Brownwood. Arrangements by Weed-Corley-Fish Funeral Home, 3125 N. Lamar Blvd., Austin, Texas 78705 (512) 452-8811. You may view memorials at www.wcfish.com