Marilyn was born on March 29, 1942 at home in Webberville, Michigan. She left her earthly home to meet the Lord on Sunday, June 24 with her family by her side singing her favorite hymns. Marilyn graduated top of her class. Marilyn's passions were gardening, cooking, drawing, sewing, reading but mostly her family. There wasn't a plant she couldn't grow, a recipe she would fix up to make better, or a project she couldn't make. She was creative in all areas of her life. Marilyn was such an avid reader until she lost her eyesight. But that did not deter her love for words or storytelling. Her grandchildren will remember her silly stories and others will remember her uncanny ability to spell any word. No one could beat her at a game of Scrabble or Upwords. Marilyn loved all types of music. She could be singing along to Frankie Valli or the Statler Brothers, Elvis or Gospel. Music filled her heart with joy. Marilyn was a member of the Calvary Baptist Church. She found great peace in her fellowship and services at the church. She also loved to watch the birds at her feeders to try and guess the species. She might even be found talking to the ones she insisted came and visited her every day. Marilyn loved spending time with family and friends. She enjoyed her daily talks on the phone with her loved ones. But one of her favorite things of all was to hold and play with her babies. She loved to cuddle, sing and tell stories to her grandbabies. You were never too old to sit on her lap and cuddle.
Marilyn was preceded in death by her parents Muriel and Vernon VanRiper, her sisters Sandra Barbour and Patricia Rhodes, her grandparents Iva and Benjamin Swegles and her beloved cat Junebug. Marilyn is survived by her children Jeff (Nora) Stanton, Paul (Suzanne) Stanton, Melissa (Mark) Doepker, Janise (Diego) Salas, and Todd (Kimberly) Stanton; 22 grandchildren; 27 great-grandchildren and 3 sisters Sheila McKinney, Penny (Claude) Benjamin, Jody (Fred) Royce. She has many beloved nieces and nephews.
Funeral Services will be held at Calvary Baptist Church, 500 North Howard St. Webberville on Thursday June 28, 11:00 am with visitation 1 hour prior to the service. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that contributions be made to Calvary Baptist Church in memory of Marilyn as that was her final wish.
