She was born in a small farmhouse in Grandview, TX on November 9, 1930 to Floyd Daniel Moore and Nina Tom Moore and sister, Mogie Chrystelle. She spent her days on the farm helping her daddy in the fields and mother in the kitchen. She loved being the daughter of a farmer and shared many stories of farm life with her children; including learning to drive a Ford Model A Truck on the dirt roads of Grandview.
Marilyn graduated from Itasca High and received an Associate’s degree from Hill College in Hillsboro, TX in 1949. She enjoyed her time in college, spending days at the nearby ponds and lakes with her friends.
After graduation, she moved with her sister to Fort Worth, Texas and eventually met her husband of 36 years, at the Church of Christ they attended. She married Kenneth A Stephens on August 10, 1951 and went on to have 3 children together. While her husband protected the city of Fort Worth as a police officer, she worked at Texas Electric until her first born. She then became a homemaker while teaching preschool at the local neighborhood churches. She found joy in country cooking and baking delicious pies for her family. She spent many days at her children’s schools in PTA and was very proud to be the wife of a police officer. Some of her most treasured memories were spending time in the mountains of Colorado and the Smokey Mountains of Tennessee on family vacations.
After her husband’s passing, she met and married an old friend, Homer Ipock, and made their home Athens, Texas. She spent her retirement years there with him developing a love of growing roses, country line dancing and helping her community by delivering Meals on Wheels. Something she treasured the rest of her days.
In her later years, she found her biggest joy in her 2 grandchildren for whom she was lovingly called Mimi. During this time, she began to show signs of Dementia and Alzheimer’s disease. She eventually shared a home with her daughter Cherie, son in law and 2 grandchildren. The last of her years she lived comfortably in Avalon Memory Care.
Mom was a proud Texan who loved her country music, old hymns, and big band music. She loved her church and loved Jesus with her whole heart. Mom leaves behind the memories of her great sense of humor, her laugh, her gentleness and kindness for others. She always reminded each of us to keep God in our hearts in everything we do.
She is survived by her children, Mark Michael Stephens and wife Kara of Pottsboro, TX. Cherie Minette Stephenson, and husband, Michael, of Arlington, TX and Mary Kay Stephens of Millersville, MD. Grandchildren, Zachary Michael Stephenson, and Emily Hope Stephenson of Arlington, TX. She is also survived by nieces, nephews and cousins who loved her so.
A Celebration of Life with the family will be held from 11am to 1pm, May 18, 2019 at the home of Cherie Stephenson.
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