"I did not know Marilynn but her life seemed so full filling and was loved by so many. She was certainly a loving person you would never forget and always enjoyed. RIP"
In loving memory of
Marilynn Curry
January 30, 1925 - June 20, 2024
Marilynn Curry, 99, passed away Thursday, June 20, 2024, at Northcrest Community in Ames, Iowa. A memorial service will be August 9, 2024, at 2:00 p.m. in the Grand room at Northcrest Community, 2300 Northcrest Parkway, Ames. A reception will follow.
Marilynn Lila Ellis Curry was born January 30, 1925, in Canby, Minnesota, to George Carlisle (Carl) Ellis, a barber, and Nellie Maude Beam Ellis, a seamstress. She was raised there with her two brothers, Donald and Robert. She went to college at Macalester in St. Paul and met Bob Curry, who was a student at the University of Minnesota, in the fall of 1944. They met and fell in love on the dance floor, and they married 3 years later on September 8, 1947. They moved a few times. They lived in New Hampton, Iowa where they owned a Coast to Coat Hardware store and both kids, Bill and Carolyn, were born there. Bob took a job selling life insurance for Northwestern National, now called Voya Financial, and they moved to Ames in 1957.
Marilynn stayed home and raised their two children for a number of years. She had many interests including sewing, performing in plays for ACTORS, singing in the UCC church choir and directing the youth choir there. She also played the piano and sang with Bob at weddings and other events. In 1971, she was one of the first employees hired at Sundstrand Corporation, now called Danfoss, where she worked for 15 years. She was one of the early members of the Octagon Tappers and enjoyed performing with them at the annual senior show and other events around the area. Marilynn and Bob performed duets in the Heartland Senior Show nine times. They always sang love songs and used the pictures from that event for their Christmas cards.
Marilynn Curry was initiated into P.E.O in New Hampton, Iowa in 1954. She joined Ames Chapter KR in 1958 and celebrated 70 years in 2024. Marilynn held several offices in KR, including President, and she was a delegate to the International Convention in Seattle in 1967 and enjoyed her first airplane trip there.
Marilynn's sewing capabilities were legendary. It brought her great joy for her whole adult life. She sewed for herself and for her daughter, even into adulthood. During the last years of her life, she did alterations for the residents of Northcrest Community. She ultimately charged everybody $5.00 for her services so they wouldn't bring her food or gifts she didn't really need.
Bob and Marilynn moved into a townhouse at Northcrest Community in 2002. They lived there for several years until Bob's ailing health required him to move to healthcare and Marilynn into an independent living apartment in 2006. She lived in #A13 until 2015 when she turned 90 and moved into healthcare herself. The staff at Northcrest took remarkable care of Marilynn during her almost 10-year tenure there and she was very happy.
Marilynn was preceded in death by her beloved husband, Bob Curry, and her brothers, Don and Bob Ellis.
She is survived by her son, Bill Curry of Ann Arbor, Michigan, her daughter, Carolyn (David) Hakes of Cedar Falls, granddaughters Madelyn (Jenny) Bell of Nashville, Rachel (Patrick) Webert of Seattle, and great grandchildren, Tucker and Lennon Bell.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to Northcrest Community or Ames United Church of Christ.
Online condolences may be directed to grandonfuneralandcremationcare.com
Tributes
"To the family of Marilynn and Bob, Friends forever, I met them when they first came to Ames. Lots of memeories. Ed Hendrickson, sr, Okoboji"
"One of my favorite people - was a privilege to know and care for Marilyn in my years at Northcrest. She was a beautiful, talented, and kind women and I enjoyed our many conversations over the years. Every year when I put up our Christmas decorations, I pull out a red, felt cardinal ornament that she made me. I?ll always treasure it and smile when I think of her. ??"
"My condolences on Marilynn's passing. I remember her fondly from my experiences at ACTORS, and my father *always* called her "Queenie," from her performance as Queen Aggravain in "Once Upon a Mattress" with him in the 1960s. A truly talented woman."
"Marillyn's spirit remains with me all these years, after many years of shared experiences in the UCC church of Ames. I grew up adoring her for her wit, her kindness and laughter, talent and beauty. She was THIS little girl's, teenager's and adult's role model. She was part of the Exner family's makeup. Angels watch over Marilynn's family, Heide (Exner) Larson"
"We remember when she was the amazing Mary Poppins in a calendar the retirement community put out. We had her autograph it for us and she did. Thank you to her family for sharing this amazing woman with us."
"We cleaned for Mr. & Mrs. Curry in their townhome. Mrs. Curry made us Christmas ornaments one year for our trees. Her laugh was contagious and her smile could brighten up any room. I remember the year she made her granddaughters bath robes for Christmas.It was a blessing to know them both and clean for them. We were more than just cleaning ladies we were treated like family."