Marilyn Muehlbach McGilley

Marilyn Muehlbach McGilley was born and raised in Kansas City, MO. She is the middle child of Roy and Elizabeth Muehlbach and grew up across the street from Loose Park. Her father was a successful grocer and jokester. Her mother was a proper lady who was a realtor late in life. Her grandfather taught her to appreciate classical music in which she studied at the University of Kansas.

She was a dedicated and loving mother who raised five daughters and spent much of her time participating in philanthropic activities. As a daughter of two entrepreneurs, she began her own business, Classic Celebrations in 1983. As a wedding planner for over 20 years, she consulted on hundreds of Kansas City weddings and was affectionately known as "the general" due to her organizational and precise planning skills. What she loved most about this career was that as she guided brides through their weddings, she felt like she had "one more daughter for the weekend."

Her philanthropic work included The Blind Nursery School - HEED - CCVI, Junior Women's Philharmonic Association, Rockhurst Library Guild, Junior League of Kansas City, St. Mary College Women's Committee, Baker University Advisory Board, United Way, March of Dimes, Heart Association and Muscular Dystrophy Association.

She was an active member of the Pembroke Hill (formerly Sunset Hill), and the University of Kansas, Kappa Alpha Theta sorority associations.

She is preceded in death by her parents, Mr. and Mrs. Roy Anthony Muehlbach, and her sister, Betty Honan.

Survivors include her five daughters, Mary McGilley, of Leawood, KS, Marcia McGilley, of Denver, CO, Marilyn Battey, of Prairie Village, KS and her husband, Chuck, Therese Smith, of Kansas City, MO, and her husband Gary, and Peggy McGilley, of New York, NY. She is also survived by her nine grandchildren who fondly called her "Gram" and brought her great joy everyday; her sister Marcia Griffith and her husband William, and her cousin Maggie Freeman and her husband Wade.

Visitation will be held from 5:00–7:00 p.m. Wednesday, February, 6, 2013 at McGilley State Line Chapel with the Rosary prayed at 7:00 p.m. Mass of Christian Burial will be held Thursday, February 7, 2013, 10:00 a.m. at Visitation Church 5141 Main, Kansas City, Missouri burial to follow in Calvary Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations may be made to Visitation Church in Kansas City, MO, St. Mary College in Leavenworth, KS, or Bishop Spencer Place Benevolent Care in Kansas City, MO.