This week one of our neighbors moved away. Many in this area knew Marilyn Jones. She moved to Georgia to be closer to her biological family and I am sure they will love having her close.
She is going to be missed in so many ways in the neighborhood, Pleasant Grove Church, afternoon ladies extension club, evening extension club, Older Adult Sunday School, quilting groups, I could go on forever I think.
Two weeks ago, we had a going away party for her, held at our church. Many spoke about memories of her, we laughed, cried and laughed some more. They asked everyone to bring a pie. If you don’t know the reason, I will explain. Every year for at least a month before Craft Day, she would stand up at any event and ask for pies, pies, pies for Craft Day. It got to the point where the only thing she would say was “Pies, Pies, Pies” and sit down, we would start laughing but knew she meant for us to support Craft Day by bringing pies for the food booths.
At Halloween, all the “grown up” kids would bring their little kids over there (usually the first stop!) because she made homemade donuts. I am so glad my two grandchildren were able to enjoy that tradition (and son-in-law and daughter!). You could start hearing the chatter when the adults were starting to make their Halloween plans, “We have to go by Marilyn’s first, she might run out!” “Let’s make that our first stop.”
She organized the Older Adult Sunday School dinner for many years. It was very well attended, but you had to be over 55 to attend (missed that one by a few years!) but she has groomed someone to take over that responsibility. Linda Huyser has been in training for a couple of years now and I think Marilyn is satisfied it is in good hands.
She was always willing to host and help out at all extension club meetings and brought lots of yummy food.
Most importantly she was an awesome neighbor to all. She went to quilt shows with several ladies, made quilts with them, talked quilting with anyone interested. She was grandmother to many kids in the neighborhood like all the Smith kids and grandkids. She is one of the most knowledgeable people about the Bible that I know. I remember one time she was talking to our women’s Bible study group and she said if you want to know how to live your life, read the book of James. She said she has gone to that book in the Bible more times than she can remember.
Marilyn and Verna Shryock have been great friends for many years and I know Verna will miss her greatly, but luckily Verna has a granddaughter in Alabama so it gives her more reason to visit Erin and make a side trip to see Marilyn. She started Marilyn Smith quilting and now (like most quilters) she is addicted, she is very artistic and has taken Marilyn Jones to several quilt shows (one that her quilt was competing in).
Even though she left our community yesterday, we are sure she will be back because she promised she will be checking on us and is planning to come back for Craft Day. Thank you for everything Miss Marilyn.
Missing her greatly!
me too! I am glad Abby Hatcher is living in her house but I still miss her.