She is survived by her husband, Gerard; her two sons, Jason and Scott Spinella; Scott’s wife Christina; and two grandsons, Hudson and Cam Spinella; and her sister, Gloria Sue Cheatham.
Marilyn graduated from Stephen F. Austin High School in Houston in 1960 and attended Bethany Nazarene College in Bethany, Oklahoma, for two years.
In the late 1960s she worked several years for John Cater, the president of Texas Commerce Bank in downtown Houston.
In 1971 she married Paul Spinella and they moved to their new home in North Hill Estates in Spring, Texas, where she lived many years, making some of her closest friends in that neighborhood. When Jason was born, she became a full-time mom and devoted herself to rearing Jason and Scott. Sadly enough, Paul fell sick with non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma and died in 1987, leaving Marilyn to continue rearing the boys.
In 1988 she began working, in various secretarial positions, for Spring ISD in 1988 and made many friends thereby, retiring in 2004. She also met a fellow employee, Forrest Matthieu and married him in 1998; Forrest died of lung cancer in 2006.
In 2009, Marilyn reconnected with an old college boyfriend, Gerard Reed, and they were married in 2010.
As a child Marilyn came to know Christ and was baptized, thereafter living a devoted disciple’s life. She faithfully attended Spring Baptist for some 35 years and particularly loved her Joy Class ladies and “game-day girls,” with whom she became fast friends.
Marilyn’s lovely smile symbolized her personality—friendly, cheerful, caring for others, ever-interested in making more friends. This was ever-evident when she and Gerard spent summers in Colorado, finding a place for herself in a wonderful circle of folks. The last time she saw many of them she gave a sweet testimony, stating she was not afraid to die, though she hoped to live much longer. Subsequently, throughout the rest of her days, she left everything in the loving hands of Jesus.
In lieu of flowers the family is asking that donations be made to the Spring Baptist Church.
Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.forestparkthewoodlands.com for the REED family.
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