Marilyn L. Crews

Marilyn, redeemed by her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, left this world on July 28, 2025 to experience life as originally it was meant to be—paradise.

She was the only child of Florence Lindenmier Benz and Oscar Henry Benz, owners of 2 grocery stores in Salina. She graduated from Salina High School, and in perusing her school yearbooks it was obvious that she enjoyed participating in many activities, especially art and drama clubs and the tennis team. Even more evident was her care for and enjoyment of her classmates. A huge full page photo of her was in her senior yearbook, with its caption reading that she was voted by faculty and students as the girl they would most like to represent their class. It stated that this was due to her involvement in both social and academic functions, such as National Honor Societies, and due to her kind disposition, “pleasing personality and dependable leadership.” She maintained her kind heart throughout her life to all with whom she had contact, including dozens of lifelong friends. 5 friends with whom she played the piano since preschool remained friends for life, and she leaves behind 2 of these dear friends. She loved sending greeting cards to friends and family, sending out more than 200 Christmas cards annually for decades, even when struggling with immobility and difficulty with handwriting during the last decade of her life.

Marilyn earned a B.A. degree in Art from Kansas State University. Her activities at K-State included presidency of her Chi Omega sorority, K-State Who’s Who, Mortar Board, and Delta Phi Delta honorary art fraternity.

She was employed as an artist at Hallmark Cards and in the art department of the Boeing Company.

In 1955 she married Charles F. Crews, and she supported him by caring for their 2 eldest year-apart-in-age children as babies in Boston while Charlie got his law degree at Harvard. Throughout his life, he had great praise for her as wife, mother and homemaker, acknowledging that he was able to graduate from Harvard (Summa Cum Laude!), while also working a night shift at an ice cream plant, due to her hard work and care at home.

Marilyn’s hard work and care included engaging her 4 children in a multitude of activities—from summer art classes at the Nelson Art Museum to music, horseback riding, dancing, swimming, and tennis. She served as President of the PTA at the South City View and the Red Bridge Elementary schools in the Center School District, and held various offices on other PTA boards in the district. She also was the “art lady” who volunteered to teach art history in the district with large beautiful copies of paintings. She was active in the Boy Scout, Girl Scout organizations, and the Lost Dog Registry. Her art badge work classes for the Scouts were particularly creative and fun, and her love of animals was ever present in her work with lost dogs and feral animals. She cared for many animals, most of them in her long-time home next to woods, including 14 dogs, 4 cats, and multitudes of wildlife, from birds to raccoons.

For many years Marilyn was a Sunday school teacher and an usher at Colonial Presbyterian Church where she was a member. She participated in numerous Bible Studies, was an avid reader and library-goer. She religiously read the daily newspaper. Politics and how they affect our great country were also of interest, and she often sent editorial comments to the paper.

She was interested in oil, acrylic, and water color painting. She painted in her humble basement storage room “studio” which only had good light in the morning. As a lifelong night owl, her dogged persistence to pursue painting was evident in her rising up early many a morning to paint with the morning light.

She also loved international travel, having visited all continents except Antarctica, and well over 30 countries. She was a kind mother and friend, who did most anything to care for others. She generously took her children and grandchildren on many vacations and travels, and once took a friend to the Cayman Islands to cheer her following a difficult time in her life.

Marilyn herself persevered through deep tragedies and very challenging health issues, knowing that she was part of a greater story—that painful circumstances did not define her or her future. She found her reassurance in God’s promises, and focused on His faithful love and His perfect eternity awaiting her. During her last immobile days, she was never alone. Her Good Shepherd was with her every step of the way as He guided her to her ultimate home. “Those who hope in the Lord WILL renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles, they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.” (Isaiah 40:31)

To God be the glory, great things He has done--such as creating His eternal Marilyn, and sacrificially redeeming her into a right and true relationship with Him. To Him be the glory for the things yet to be fully accomplished--such as re-uniting loved ones, and one day perfectly redeeming this beautiful world Marilyn loved from the sin that has corrupted it.

In addition to her parents and husband, she was preceded in death by a daughter, Holly. She leaves a son, Kirby, daughters Stacy and Julie, granddaughters Brooke and Chelsea, and 5 great grandchildren, McKenzie, Gage, Alexa, Natalie, and Grace. She loved and cherished them all, and no doubt, she will be missed by all who loved her.

A private memorial service will be held.

The family requests that in lieu of plants or flowers, memorials may be sent to:

Colonial Presbyterian Church, 9500 Wornall Rd., K.C. MO 64114

or to: Wayside Waifs, 3901 Martha Truman Rd., K.C. MO 64137

or to: HELP Humane Society, 17122 Bel-Ray Pl, Belton MO 64012