Marilyn Joyce Sheets passed away peacefully after a long battle with Alzheimer's Disease on January 19, 2024, just a few hours short of her 82nd birthday.

She was born in Union Missouri on January 20, 1942. She was the oldest child of Willard "Joe" Dunn and Ruth Detmer Dunn. Marilyn was very proud of her family. She was the big sister to Willard, Bonnie, and the surprise of the family, Steve.

She loved to tell stories of their childhood in Union, where they lived close to extended family. The family lived there until her father moved to Tulsa, Oklahoma her senior year of high school. Marilyn talked about how the student population of her new school, Tulsa Central, was larger than the whole population of Union. She said it was pretty scary at first but she made the best of it. Marilyn graduated from Central High School before attending the University of Tulsa where she obtained dual degrees, a BA in Life Science Education and a BS in Botany. While at TU, she met Don. He was in one of her classes and she caught his eye either by her beautiful blonde hair or her extensive note taking abilities. It may have been both.

Marilyn was recognized for her academic excellence while at TU and was nominated for Mortar Board by her favorite professor. She thought it must be a mistake and was surprised that she would even be considered. Those who knew her knew it was no mistake, she exhibited excellence and a high moral character in all she did.

She married Donald Eugene Sheets on July 27, 1963 at the First Baptist Church in Union, MO. Her parents and siblings moved back to Union while Marilyn stayed in Tulsa and established her home with her husband while she finished her degrees. Upon graduation, Marilyn stayed home and raised her two boys, Darren and Craig. While raising the boys, she began to commute to Northeastern State University in Tahlequah to obtain a teaching certificate. She also went on to obtain a Masters in Education from Oklahoma State University.

In 1967, Don and Marilyn bought their first farm in Skiatook. They lived there 11 years before selling it and buying a bigger farm West of Cleveland. She lived here for 46 years. She was happy and proud that both of her sons and their wives liked country life enough to live on the farm close to her and Don. She joked that everyone was close enough to call for help but far enough apart to avoid each other if they wanted. Marilyn worked in several different labs through the years before she began teaching 9th grade physical science at Cleveland High School. She became head of the Science Department and was selected by her peers as Cleveland High School Teacher of the Year twice. She retired in 2001 after 21 years of teaching. For many years after retirement, she was proud that she could remember the name of every single student she ever taught.

Marilyn loved reading, collecting safari animals and snowmen, walking on the property, and getting her hair and nails done. She loved Jazzercise and was quite athletic in her prime, excelling in volleyball. She hosted an exercise group in her classroom at school where she and her friends would work out to The Firm videos. She held a blue belt from Padge-Mathes Tae Kwon Do and when she was unable to continue up the ranks, she kept records and was the unofficial secretary, not missing a Tuesday or Thursday class. She devoted countless hours to supporting her children and their spouses in whatever endeavor they embarked on, sacrificially ensuring their success. She delivered flowers for Darren and Cindy and often could be found working the ticket booth at the Broadway Twin Theater, helping Craig and Leigh Ann. After retirement, Marilyn kept busy following her grandkids around in their various activities. Michael, Eric, Alec, Allysa, and Jana were all shining stars to their Gma. They could do no wrong and she made sure to keep her house stocked up with various ice cream cones and popsicles to treat them when they came to visit, which was often daily.

Marilyn was preceded in death by her parents, Joe and Ruth Dunn, and her husband, Don.

She is survived by her children, Darren and wife Cindy; Craig and wife Leigh Ann; grandchildren, Michael Graves, Eric and wife Meredith, Alec, Allysa, Jana and her husband Bryson Ostrowski; as well as great grandchildren Austyn, Carolina and Charlotte Sheets and Lilah Graves; brother Willard and Anke Dunn and family, Tulsa; sister, Bonnie and husband Paul Trump and family, Missouri; brother Steve Dunn, Jennings.