Marilyn Joan Brinkley-Cotter

Marilyn “Tinker” Joan Brinkley-Cotter left this world on December 28th, 2021. Born in Washington D.C. on April 5, 1936 and raised in Virginia, she brought much joy to her parents, Relus and Ruth Brinkley. She attended Herndon High School in Herndon, VA and American University in Washington D.C. prior to working in civil service for the National Security Agency. Along the way she met a handsome Air Force man, Sanford Ray Purvis of Shipman, VA and they married. Together they traveled and lived in many southern states-Virginia, Florida, South Carolina, and Georgia; they had 3 children: Ray, Caroline and Michelle. Marilyn spent those years focused on the family and in community leadership positions for many organizations such as the Brevard County Homemakers Council, Merritt Island Homemakers, American Businesswomen’s Association, and Boy Scouts. One of her favorite experiences was living in Cocoa Beach when her husband worked at the space center and participated in the operations of the Apollo 11 launch to the moon in 1969. It was an exciting time where she was able to join a special tour of the Apollo facilities. She and her husband opened their home for many years as sponsors to Vietnamese students attending aviation school at Hunter Army Airfield, GA. They were honored several times for their contribution in strengthening relationships between our country and the Republic of Vietnam in the early 1970s. On her own, Marilyn had a fashionable and creative side. It wasn’t uncommon to see her in a full ensemble that she created and sewed entirely herself. She directed many fashion shows, wrote local columns on fashion, and conducted spotlights on local television programs. Her talents allowed her to branch into interior and floral design throughout her life. In later years, she was a floral designer at the Broadmoor Hotel where she was always tickled when she got to create an arrangement for the US President’s room upon their visits to Colorado Springs. She also supported her church for many years with her floral talents. She really shined in this area and influenced her children’s creative side in a positive way. She was very proud of her Swedish heritage and the work ethic so engrained generationally by family who traveled to this country and settled in western Kansas. Her parents retired out west to be closer to her mother’s family; she and her children later followed them to Colorado Springs in the late 70s. As their only child, she was dedicated to her parent’s well-being as they aged and lovingly gave much of herself to them. Marilyn had a real love of dogs and cats throughout her life – particularly those of the poodle kind. She treasured having them as pets and even for a time became a part-time dog groomer. Outside of a short time in Cheyenne, WY, she spent the rest of her days living in Colorado Springs. She loved gazing at Pike’s Peak every day and appreciated the military community in the area but mostly loved being present in the lives of her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. She got one last hoorah in love when she married Kenneth Cotter. He adored her. They enjoyed retirement life together until his passing. Though her family will always miss her, she was blessed with a long life and touched many lives. She was a faithful woman and comforted that the lord would take her when it was time. Including her husband, Ken, Marilyn is also preceded in death by her parents Relus and Ruth Brinkley and her daughter, Caroline Elizabeth Purvis. She is survived by her son, Ray Elton Purvis (Peggy) and daughter, Michelle Marilyn Smoker (John MacFarlane), grandchildren Heidi Linhardt (Jason), Molly McIntyre (Josh), Tyler Purvis (Shaunna), Chad Purvis (Marie), Savanna Smoker, Skylar Smoker, and her many (14) great-grandchildren. A private memorial service and internment will be held on January 29th, 2022 at 11am - Memorial Gardens Cemetery & Funeral Home, Colorado Springs.