January 8, 1933 – September 22, 2020
BOWIE – Marilyn Garrett, 87, passed away on Sept. 22, 2020 and those who have the hope of heaven know we will meet again.
A private burial was Oct. 2 at Charlie Cemetery, Charlie. A memorial will be in Alberta in the summer of 2021.
Earl and Freda Erickson’s second child, a honey-haired girl they named Marilyn, was born on Jan. 8, 1933. Marilyn grew up with her family in a log cabin her father built along the North Saskatchewan River, outside of Stony Plain, Alberta, Canada. Her people were hardy immigrants and settlers, whose unafraid, the creative outlook also served her well as she established homes for her family across the globe while following her husband’s work. Marilyn met her handsome Texan, Jim Garrett. He changed her life in the best, most adventuresome way, while she was working in a movie theater in Edmonton. They lived in love for 64 years before Jim’s passing in 2017. Despite living in an era that railed against it, Marilyn was unashamed and confident in her calling as she relished running a well-managed home and raising her children.
Throughout her life, and in spite of the distance, her elder sister, Gwen, remained Marilyn’s best friend. Their relationship was warm, loving and constant until a recent stroke took her sister’s ability to communicate. Having filled each other’s cup with love and laughter so many times before, nothing of value was truly lost. Those who knew Marilyn best, and those that will miss her most, will attest that her reserved surface was only a thin disguise to a wonderful, quirky and truly big personality that endeared her to many.
Marilyn was predeceased by her husband, Jim and her parents.
She is survived by her son, Tim and wife, Ruth, Wichita Falls; daughter, Jamie, Garland; step-son, Jim and wife, Janet, Norman, OK; sister, Gwen and husband, Jim Awid, Beaumont, Alberta; brother, Neil and wife Nadine, Parkland County Alberta; grandson, Aaron, Wichita Falls; nephews, Brad and his family, Israel; niece, Glenda, Edmonton, Alberta and Nathan and his family, Saskatchewan and niece, Elizabeth Myers and her family, Parkland County Alberta.
A special, love-filled, thank you is owed to Marilyn’s heroes, ladies with beautiful and patient souls who enabled Marilyn to continue living life to her fullest during those difficult later years – Lisa Sharber, Bowie, Gayla Mattix, Sunset and Kim Rollins, Garland.
Your fond remembrances are enough; but, if you wish to make a donation in her memory, Marilyn’s favorite charities included: Shriner’s Hospital of Dallas, Happy Hill Farm in Granbury and Cal Farley’s in Amarillo.
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