Marilyn Sue Edwards

Marilyn Sue Edwards was born on April 14, 1939, in Albuquerque, New Mexico, to parents Viet D. and Frieda E. Rees. Her birth occurred during the final years of the Great Depression, in a southwestern city that was growing due to railroad activities and emerging military installations. The unique combination of her parents' names suggests a diverse family background that reflected the multicultural nature of New Mexico in the 1930s.

As a young woman, Marilyn's family relocated to Kansas, where she would meet the love of her life. She graduated from Nickerson Rural High School in Kansas in 1957, during the height of the 1950s American prosperity. It was at this small-town high school that she encountered Millard "Ed" Edwards, who would become her lifelong companion. Their romance blossomed during their teenage years, laying the foundation for what would become a remarkable 47-year marriage.

Following her high school graduation, Marilyn married her sweetheart Millard Edwards, beginning a partnership that would endure through nearly five decades of American social and economic transformation. Together, they built a loving family that would grow to include three children: daughter Marsha, who married Rob Aiken, and sons Mike and Monte, who married Patricia and Mary respectively. The Edwards household was one where family bonds ran deep, and Marilyn embraced her role as the heart of their growing clan.

At some point during their married life, Marilyn and Millard relocated to the Pacific Northwest, settling in West Richland, Washington. This community, nestled in the Tri-Cities region of south-central Washington along the Columbia River, provided them with a place to establish deep roots. The area, known for its agricultural productivity and proximity to the Hanford nuclear facility, offered both natural beauty and economic opportunity during the post-war boom years.

Marilyn was a woman of diverse interests and considerable skills. She found joy in outdoor activities, particularly fishing, hunting, camping, and boating. These pursuits reflected both her adventurous spirit and her appreciation for the natural beauty of the Pacific Northwest, with its abundant rivers, forests, and recreational opportunities. Beyond outdoor recreation, she possessed remarkable creative talents, becoming skilled in knitting, spinning, weaving, and silversmithing. These traditional crafts required patience, precision, and artistic vision—qualities that defined much of her approach to life.

As a mother, Marilyn was deeply supportive of her family's activities and interests. She consistently backed her children's sporting endeavors and various pursuits, demonstrating the kind of unwavering parental support that creates lasting family bonds. Her dedication to family extended to her role as grandmother, as she would eventually welcome nine grandchildren: Chris, Sarah, Jayne, and Sophie Aiken (through daughter Marsha), and Joey, Kimberly, Brandon, Jacob, and Majesta Edwards (through sons Mike and Monte).

The Edwards family's life in West Richland was marked by stability, love, and community connection. Marilyn and Millard's marriage became a testament to enduring commitment during an era when divorce rates were climbing across America. Their 47-year partnership weathered the social upheavals of the 1960s, the economic challenges of the 1970s and 1980s, and the technological transformations of the 1990s.

As Marilyn entered her later years, she faced a challenge that would test her family's strength and devotion. She began experiencing the early symptoms of Alzheimer's disease, a progressive neurodegenerative condition that gradually affects memory, thinking, and behavior. This diagnosis marked the beginning of what her obituary would later describe as "a long struggle" with the disease.

Alzheimer's disease typically progresses through several stages, beginning with mild memory problems and eventually affecting all aspects of cognitive function. For Marilyn's family, this meant watching as the vibrant woman who had been the center of their lives slowly lost her abilities to remember, recognize, and communicate. The progression likely spanned several years, requiring increasing levels of care and support from her devoted husband Millard and their children.

As her condition advanced, it became necessary for Marilyn to receive professional care at Beverly Health and Rehabilitation Center in nearby Pasco, Washington. This skilled nursing facility provided the specialized care that Alzheimer's patients require in their final stages, including assistance with daily living activities, medical supervision, and comfort measures. The decision to place a loved one in long-term care is always difficult for families, but it reflected the family's commitment to ensuring Marilyn received the best possible care during her illness.

On October 5, 2003, after her courageous battle with Alzheimer's disease, Marilyn Sue Edwards passed away at Beverly Health and Rehabilitation Center. She was 64 years old, having lived through six decades of remarkable American history and personal fulfillment. Her death marked the end of an era for the Edwards family, but also the completion of a life well-lived, filled with love, creativity, and devotion to family.

The community recognized Marilyn's passing with a memorial service held on Friday, October 10, 2003, at 11:00 a.m. at The Center of Christian Ministries in Pasco. The service, arranged by Mueller's Greenlee Funeral Home of Pasco, brought together family, friends, and community members who had known and loved her throughout her years in the Tri-Cities region. In lieu of flowers, the family requested donations to the Alzheimer's Association of Eastern Washington, ensuring that Marilyn's legacy would contribute to the fight against the disease that had claimed her life.

At the time of her death, Marilyn was survived by her beloved husband Millard, their three children and their spouses, nine grandchildren, and her brother Charles Rees and his wife Arlene. She had been preceded in death by her parents, Viet D. and Frieda E. Rees. The breadth of her surviving family testified to the rich relationships she had cultivated throughout her 64 years of life.

Marilyn Sue Edwards's life spanned an era of tremendous change in American society, from the Great Depression through the dawn of the twenty-first century. She experienced the optimism of post-war America, the social transformations of the civil rights era, and the technological revolution that would reshape daily life. Through it all, she remained grounded in the values of family, creativity, and community that had shaped her from her earliest days in New Mexico through her final years in Washington State.