Marilyn J. Ledell Reed, Lenexa,KS, died April 19, 2024 at her home surrounded by her loving family. Visitation will be from 10:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m. with Funeral services at 11:00 a.m. Tuesday, April 30 at the Porter Funeral Home, 8535 Monrovia, Lenexa, KS. Memorial contributions may be made to Interim Healthcare & Hospice Services, Overland Park, KS, or Trinity Lutheran Church, McPherson, KS.
Marilyn was born December 21, 1932, the daughter of Harry and Gladys (Garton) Ledell in McPherson, KS. Ten days later Marilyn's sweet mother passed away at the hospital. Her father took her home and raised her with love along with his mother, Johanna Ledell. Little Marilyn was adored by her father's many sisters and brother. When Marilyn's dad remarried she later became a big sister to Phyllis, Joe, Marjorie, Judy and Julia. At 17, she left the family farm to attend Bethany School of Nursing, a 3 year program in Kansas City, KS. One night while out with some other student nurses, it started to rain. A handsome young man was nice enough to offer the girls a ride home. Apparently she had caught his eye and soon a romance blossomed. Roy and Marilyn were united in marriage February 20, 1953 and stayed in love and having fun for 69 years. They had 2 children, Steve and Jenne.
After working at Bethany Hospital while trying to raise 2 children and coordinate family life around a firefighter's schedule, Marilyn took an office job with Dr. Steele, an ear, nose and throat doctor. She worked there for 39 years and specialized in allergy testing.
Marilyn was baptized and confirmed in the Trinity Lutheran Church, McPherson, KS and after marriage the family attended London Heights Methodist Church, Kansas City, KS, and later Trinity United Methodist Church, Kansas City, KS.
Marilyn loved her family above all else and took her role very seriously. She was everyone's go-to person whether you needed someone's phone number, a recipe, help getting a stain out, advice or just an ear to listen to your woes. No one had more love for others and that included her friends and neighbors. She also loved her flowers and plants where she spent hours in the dirt, as she said. She was also the fun mom and grandma - always ready to play games, provide dress-up clothes, sharing stories, buying fun little gifts and always baking something delicious like her famous sour cream drops or cake and dip. She said I love you often and she meant it.
Marilyn was preceded in death by her husband of 69 years, Roy, her parents & step-mother, and siblings Joe Ledell and Julia Ledell. She is survived by her 2 children, Steve (Donna) Reed and Jenne (Don) Laytham, 3 granddaughters, Hayley (Nathan) Nitchals, Katie Reed and Gabby Reed, and 3 great-grandchildren, Evan, Amelia, and Isaac Nitchals, her siblings, Phyllis Bell, Marjorie Ledell, Judy Ledell and sister-in-law Sharon Ledell as well as many nieces and nephews, extended family and friends.