Marilyn Frazier Bourque

Marilyn Frazier Rogers Bourque lived a life marked by intellectual curiosity, artistic passion, and a spirit of adventure that carried her from modest Midwestern roots to an extraordinary journey spanning thousands of miles across America's waterways. Born around 1928 to Earnest Lee Rogers and Margaret Kemp Rogers in Troy, Ohio, she emerged from the Great Depression era with a love of music and performance that would define much of her personal identity throughout her remarkable life.

Growing up in Troy during the Depression and into the World War II era, Marilyn experienced the economic hardships and social disruptions alongside the community resilience that characterized the region. Troy, situated in the heart of the Great Miami Valley approximately nineteen miles north of Dayton, provided access to educational institutions and cultural opportunities that would shape her values and aspirations. Her parents, Earnest Lee Rogers and Margaret Kemp Rogers, appear to have prioritized their daughter's education and cultural development despite the challenging economic times.

Marilyn graduated from Troy High School in 1948, positioning her among the first cohorts to complete secondary education after World War II ended. Rather than ending her education there, she pursued higher learning at Miami University in Oxford, Ohio, where she focused on music studies. This prestigious institution, founded in 1809 and one of America's first public universities, provided Marilyn with serious musical training and a rich cultural environment. It was at Miami University where she met James D. Bourque, whom she would call Jim throughout their extraordinary 68-year marriage.

Marilyn and Jim married in 1951, positioning them firmly in the postwar marriage boom. Following their marriage, they initially started their family in Kentucky, where they lived from approximately 1951 to 1962 and had their three children: Barbara, J.C., and Thomas. In 1962, the family made a significant relocation back to Troy, Ohio, where Marilyn had been raised, seeking to establish themselves in a community with familiar networks and educational opportunities for their growing children.

Upon returning to Troy, Marilyn discovered her calling with the newly established Troy Civic Theatre, becoming instrumental in creating one of the community's most significant cultural institutions. The theatre, which began presenting quality live entertainment in 1965, provided Marilyn with a platform to showcase her considerable artistic talents. She distinguished herself by performing lead roles in major Broadway musicals including "The King and I" and "My Fair Lady," two of the most demanding and prestigious productions in American musical theatre. Her musical and acting abilities extended into her domestic life, where she entertained family members by reading bedtime stories in character voices and hosting Christmas Eve sing-alongs at the piano.

After her children reached college age, Marilyn entered a remarkable new phase of professional reinvention. When Jim secured a new position in Lima, Ohio in 1978, rather than simply accompanying him as a traditional spouse, Marilyn recognized an opportunity for her own development. Following "a new passion," she enrolled at Lima Technical College and completed an Associate's degree in Engineering Technology in 1981. This achievement was particularly significant as it demonstrated her willingness to develop new professional competencies as an adult and succeed in technical fields often dominated by men.

Upon graduation, Marilyn secured employment as an engineering technician at the Chrysler M1 Abrams tank plant in Lima. The M1 Abrams tank represented one of the most sophisticated and technologically advanced weapons systems ever developed, and work as an engineering technician required substantial technical knowledge, attention to detail, and reliability. Her employment in this capacity during the early 1980s placed her among women who successfully pursued technical careers during a period when such positions remained relatively uncommon for women.

Perhaps the most remarkable chapter of Marilyn's life began in 1984 when she and Jim made a decision that would transform their existence. With Jim's early retirement, the couple purchased a sailboat and embarked on an epic maritime journey through the Great Lakes, Erie Canal, Hudson River, and Intracoastal Waterway. This extraordinary voyage lasted five months at sea and covered approximately 1,500 to 2,000 nautical miles, requiring substantial sailing expertise, physical endurance, and the ability to handle emergencies and unexpected circumstances.

After completing their maritime adventure, Marilyn and Jim took up residence in sunny Coral Gables, Florida, where they lived for nearly three decades until 2013. This extended period in South Florida allowed them to enjoy the climate, community, and lifestyle they had discovered through their sailing journey. Coral Gables, characterized by Mediterranean Revival architecture and planned community development, provided a distinctive residential environment with cultural resources and lifestyle opportunities.

In 2013, at an advanced age, Marilyn and Jim made their final relocation to the Denver area in Colorado to be closer to family. This move represented a conscious choice to prioritize family relationships over the established community ties they had created in Florida. Marilyn took up residence in Lakewood, Colorado, where she lived during her final years surrounded by children and grandchildren who had settled throughout the region.

Throughout her life, Marilyn was characterized by her "outgoing personality, quick-witted humor, and constant smile" that "won her friends easily wherever she went". Her warmth and sweetness were described as "abundant as the candies and chocolates stashed throughout the house to satisfy her sweet tooth." Most importantly, she possessed a "curious intellect, love of history, and sense of adventure" that motivated her to be "constantly trying and learning new things throughout her life."

Marilyn's most enduring legacy lies in the family she created and nurtured across seven decades. Her three children—Barbara of Lakewood, Colorado; J.C. and his wife Lisa Heppner of Wheat Ridge, Colorado; and Thomas and his wife Debbie of Ann Arbor, Michigan—represent her direct contribution to the next generation. Her six grandchildren are dispersed across the country from Massachusetts to California, reflecting the geographic mobility of contemporary American families while maintaining the strong connections she fostered.

Marilyn Bourque passed away peacefully at her home in Lakewood, Colorado, on March 18, 2026, at the age of 98. She was preceded in death by her beloved husband Jim Bourque after their remarkable 68-year marriage. Her life exemplified the possibilities available to women of her generation who pursued education, creative expression, professional accomplishment, and personal adventure while navigating the social conventions of their era. She leaves behind a legacy of curiosity, generosity, creativity, and willingness to embrace new challenges that continues to inspire her family and all who knew her.