Marilyn Mae (Scofield) Eichner passed away on June 17, 2022 at the age of 92, at Gray Cara Assisted Living in Keenesburg, Colorado. She was born to Genevieve Merriam Gustafson Scofield and Malcolm Harry Scofield on August 1, 1929, in Brighton, Colorado. She was the second of four children— Malcolm Harry Scofield, Jr., Evelyn Scofield Schmidt, and Lorne (Buzz) Scofield, all deceased.
As a child Marilyn attended North Elementary, a block from her home – the same school where she taught at many years later. She graduated from Brighton High School in 1947, two years later graduated from Colorado Women’s College in Denver, and received a Bachelor of Arts degree in Education from Colorado State College in Greeley in 1953. She furthered her education by earning her master’s degree in Education Administration from University of Northern Colorado in Greeley in 1971.
Her teaching career began in 1949 in a one-room schoolhouse in Tonville, an area east of Brighton. Her next teaching assignment was at Cactus Ridge Elementary School, a red brick schoolhouse located near Commerce City and the Rocky Mountain Arsenal. Marilyn taught all grades at Cactus Ridge from 1950 to 1963 and was the last teacher there when the building was closed in 1963, with 24 students at the time. Besides teaching several grades at once, she also took over the principal’s duties in her final years there. The students lived nearby on neighboring farms, and the families enjoyed a close relationship with Marilyn. She was definitely a favorite and well-liked in the country community.
After Cactus Ridge School closed, she taught kindergarten, 1st and 2nd grades at one more country school – Pleasant Plains – just south of Brighton, for three years before it also closed.
She then began teaching at North Elementary School, where she had attended as a child, for 21 years until her retirement. In addition to teaching, Marilyn was also active in the Colorado Education Association, and she served on several educational committees. Fellow teachers described her as preparing children so well, not just in school, but also in life. Her students left her classroom with good work habits and ready to continue on in their education. Marilyn absolutely loved her work. In 36 years of teaching, she had said no two students were the same and each day she experienced new and different challenges, which is what kept her ideas fresh and her attitude positive all those years. To this day many former students still remember her with great fondness and respect.
Besides enjoying an exceptional teaching career, Marilyn was a devoted wife, mother, and grandmother. Marilyn met Howard Hans Eichner in 1947 after he returned from serving in the army in WWII under General Patton. They married on June 10, 1950, at the First Methodist Church in Brighton. While Marilyn’s career was dedicated to teaching school, Howard was a well-known and respected dryland wheat farmer.
Marilyn and Howard became world travelers after their retirement in 1986, a totally new adventure for both of them as they spent three months literally traveling around the world.
Following Howard’s death in 2004, Marilyn moved into the newly built St. Andrew’s Village in Aurora, living the dream she and Howard had planned together. For 17 years she was the unofficial greeter at St. Andrew’s, often sitting in the lobby just to say hi to everyone who passed by. She enjoyed reading, taking walks, and doing crossword puzzles and word finds. She made many friends, continued to travel, and live life to the fullest, all while missing her Howie. All of the staff and residents knew and loved her!
Marilyn is survived by daughters: Terry (Randy) Brigham of Estes Park, and Tammy (Joe) Brnak of Hudson; grandchildren: Luke (Katie) Brigham of Yoder, Wyoming; Jared (Emma) Brnak of Brighton; and Lindsey (Anthony) McCord of Dickson, Tennessee; and great-grandchildren: Josiah and Thomas Brigham, Rylind Huff, Kinlee McCord, Ryder McCord, and Eli Brnak.
Marilyn was an adoring, loving wife, mother, and grandmother, and she loved spending time with her family. She left a legacy of love as evidenced by her close family and friends. She was dearly loved by all who knew her, and she will be greatly missed!
The memorial service, burial, and reception will be on Thursday, June 30 at 10:00 a.m. at Olinger Highland Mortuary and Cemetery, 10201 Grant Street (104th and I-25) in Thornton, Colorado.
Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.olingerhighland.com for the Eichner family.
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