Marilyn Chamney Lee

Marilyn C. Lee died on October 10, 2024 after a valiant battle with Parkinson’s Disease. Despite the progressive decline of her health over the last several years, her kind and loving nature was always apparent and she handled her Parkinson’s symptoms and limitations with grace and positivity.

The family would like to acknowledge and thank those who were involved in caring for Marilyn in the last years of her life. She was fortunate to have an expert team of doctors helping her to manage her Parkinson’s and other conditions. She also was fortunate to encounter many attentive and loving caregivers while residing in different assisted living facilities over the last few years. Additionally, in the final months of her life, she received excellent care and support provided by her hospice nurses. The family also would like to thank the friends and family who visited Marilyn to lift her spirits and brighten her days, especially Kim L. who visited regularly for months.

Marilyn was born to Edward and Dorothea Chamney on April 13, 1942 in Lawrence, Kansas. She grew up on the Chamney Dairy Farm which her grandfather founded in 1912. The house and barn remain on the former farm property and now are part of the the University of Kansas (KU) Center for Design Research. Marilyn graduated from KU (Rock Chalk, Jayhawk!) with a Bachelor of Science in Education in 1964.

She spent the next thirty-five years as a teacher. Due to her husband’s service in the U.S. Army, she moved frequently in the early years of her career and had the opportunity to teach in various cities, including Taipei, Taiwan. Marilyn finished her teaching career in Texas where she was a kindergarten teacher for twenty years. She briefly taught at Faubion Elementary School in Leander ISD and then moved to Round Rock ISD, starting out at Voigt Elementary and then retiring in 1999 from Purple Sage Elementary School.

Marilyn was a beloved and devoted educator who had a passion for teaching young children. Prior to her retirement, she was a proud member of the Delta Kappa Gamma Society International for women educators. After retiring, she found joy in a variety of activities she loved. She was able to spend time with her grandchildren and great grandchildren, engage in her hobbies (sewing, crocheting, puzzles, and word games being her favorites), and travel. One of her most rewarding activities in retirement was helping transport rescued shelter dogs to fosters in various other cities. Marilyn loved animals, especially dogs, and as a result of her volunteer transport work, she ended up fostering and adopting a few dogs of her own.

Marilyn was preceded in death by her husband, Ed, in 2004. She is survived by her brother, Cliff Chamney, and sister, Patrina Chamney. She also is survived by her children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren: daughter, Jennifer; son, Kris (and wife Stephanie); grandson Tanner (and fiancé Jennifer); granddaughter Natalie (and fiancé Vasu); granddaughter Shelby; and great-grandchildren Josephine, Leon, Sterling, and Raphael.

Marilyn and Ed were interred together at the Central Texas State Veterans Cemetery in Killeen, Texas. A celebration of Marilyn’s life will take place on April 12, 2025 at 11:30 am at Cook-Walden Chapel of the Hills in Austin, Texas.

In lieu of flowers, the please consider a donation to the Michael J. Fox Foundation (https://www.michaeljfox.org/) or the Parkinson’s Foundation (https://www.parkinson.org) in memory of Marilyn.

The family encourages all adults over age 18, with or without Parkinson’s, to participate in the Parkinson’s Progression Markers Initiative (ppmi-info.org). The PPMI collects data intended to speed scientific breakthroughs and new treatments for Parkinson’s. Marilyn and her family very much hope that in the future others won’t have to suffer with Parkinson’s the way she did.