Marilyn Kay Griest, age 87, died Wednesday, Oct. 30, 2024, at the MCHHS Resident Care Center, Beloit, Kansas. Marilyn was born Oct. 18, 1937, in Jewell County, Kansas, to Victor and Mary (Owen) Tullar. She grew up south of Jewell on the family farm.
Marilyn attended grade school at Star Country School and graduated from Jewell High School in 1955. She then attended and graduated from Fort Hays State University with a teaching degree. She taught many different subjects in her life and taught at Hays, Kansas, Jessieville, Arkansas, and Beloit. After she retired from teaching, she was a substitute teacher at Beloit for a few years.
She was married to Vernon Glenn Mauch on Nov. 18, 1977, in Hays. They then moved to Arkansas. Glenn died on June 30, 1990, after a lengthy illness where Marilyn cared for him. Marilyn then married Reed Griest on April 21, 1994, in Jewell. They lived in Glasco on Reed's farmstead before moving to the Tullar farmstead in 1997 south of Jewell. Marilyn and Reed enjoyed living on the farm. She was a big help to Reed with his Abraham Lincoln collection. They enjoyed a simple, quiet life going to auctions and being with family. Reed died in 2015 after a lengthy illness, where again Marilyn was a wonderful caregiver. After Reed's death, Marilyn sold the farm and moved into Jewell. She enjoyed living in her little house in town and feeding the stray cats. In June of 2023, she moved into RCC in Beloit. She loved the staff that cared for her and even gave many of them cute nicknames. The staff there loved her quick wit, charm and even her stubbornness.
Marilyn was a member of the Methodist Church, Chamber of Commerce, Jewell Library Board, and the Mankato and Beloit bridge clubs.
Marilyn is survived by her step-children, Steve (Beth) Mauch of Limerick, Pennsylvania; Tammy (Rick) Shaw of Selden, Kansas; Stacy (Bob) Prater of Assaria, Kansas and DeeDee Becker of Salina, Kansas; sister, Myrth (Graham) McDonald of Georgetown, Texas; sister-in-law, Sharon Tullar; many nieces, nephews, step-grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
Besides her parents and husbands, Marilyn was preceded in death by her brother, Vaughn Tullar; sister, Shirley Simmelink; brother-in-law, Don Simmelink; and step-son, Don Griest.
Visitation was from 12 to 4 p.m. Sunday Nov. 3, 2024, at Kleppinger Funeral Home, Jewell.
Her funeral was at 11 a.m., Monday Nov. 4, 2024, at the Jewell Trinity Methodist Church, Jewell with Pastor Keith Shank officiating. Burial followed at Wallace Cemetery, Jewell.
Memorial contributions may be made to the MCHHS Resident Care Center or to the Jewell Trinity Methodist Church in c/o Kleppinger Funeral Home.
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