MARILYN ROSE RICHARDS
MARILYN ROSE RICHARDS
Marilyn Rose (Denhart) Richards, daughter of Lloyd James Denhart and Lela Pearl (Blunck) Denhart, was born September 3, 1931 in Mount Ayr, Iowa and passed away on April 10, 2015 at Clearview Home in Mount Ayr with her family by her side.
Her high school principal told her ‘if you look your best, you will act your best.’ Marilyn took this advice to lead a life of style and grace. She graduated from Mount Ayr High School in 1949 and married Robert “Hap” Wayne Richards the following year on June 11, 1950 at the First Christian Church in Mount Ayr. Two children were born to this union, Debra Diane and David Wayne.
As a stay-at-home mother, Marilyn’s impeccable style was reflected in the outfits she enjoyed sewing for her family. She always strived to make them look their best and played many roles to help them be their best. Marilyn served as a Cub Scout den mother for David’s troop and was room mother for her children’s classroom parties. She was an integral part of planning a trip to Washington DC and New York City for her son’s CYF group and served on the PTA. As a longtime member of the First Christian Church, she led Sunday School and planned the church’s wedding receptions for more than 10 years. From planning bank trips to hosting card parties, Marilyn’s friends and family benefitted from her zest for life.
Marilyn joined the workforce in 1968, first at Dr. Fell’s office for 19 years and then at Southwest Builder Supply for 16 years in an accounts payable position; however, her favorite job of all was babysitting her three grandchildren – Nicole, Wesley and Burton.
Marilyn was proceeded in death by her parents; husband Hap in 2012, siblings, Don (Lucille) Denhart, Doyle (Carolyn) Denhart and Margaret (Frank) McClurg; brothers and sisters in law, Marion (Charles) Skinner, Bonnie (Bob) Pratt, Jane (Floy) Hutt, Allen (Lila) Richards, Bill Richards and Connie Jacobson.
Those left to cherish her memory include children Debbie (Joe) Murphy and David (Lisa) Richards, all of Mount Ayr; grandchildren Nicole Murphy of Kansas City, Mo., Wes (Amber) Richards of Leon and Burton (Molly) Murphy of Mount Ayr, step-grandchildren Megan (Patrick) Smith of Mount Ayr and Michael Poulos of Creston; great grandchildren Emma and Jeffrey Richards of Leon and Rowan Murphy of Mount Ayr; step-great grandchildren Katelynn, Elizabeth, Emily and Joshua; brothers and sisters-in-law Charles (Donna) Richards of Mount Ayr, Ann (Bill) Sickels of Brenhan, Texas and Sue Sickels of Indianola, Iowa, Bob Jacobson of Caroline Shores, North Carolina, and Jean Richards of Eugene, Oregon; nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.
Services were held at 10:30 a.m. Tuesday, April 14, 2015 at the First Christian Church in Mount Ayr.
Officiating were Rev. Chris Conklin and Rev. Terry Roberts.
Music included “This Amazing Love,” “In This Very Room and “I Can See Clearly Now.”
Pallbearers were Nicole Murphy, Wes Richards, Burton Murphy, Joe Denhart, Rick Fox, Roland Jackson and Jim Denhart.
Burial was in the Rose Hill Cemetery in Mount Ayr.
Memorials have been established for the First Christian Church in Mount Ayr and HCI Care Services.
