Marlyn Elaine Sewell Parker of Milford, Ohio, born on September 9, 1925, was a young and spunky 93 when she passed away on March 12, 2019. Her hilarious wit and genuine kindness made her everybody’s favorite person, including the letter carrier, the cable guy, nurses, neighbors, and even random strangers at the grocery who amazed her when they bought her flowers just because she mentioned how pretty they were. When she talked about her family, she always smiled like she was the wealthiest person in the world, because she chose to believe that the love of the people in her life made her that rich.
She kept close friends who vacationed and traveled together, called each other, and were there for each other long before social media. She always said the worst part about getting old was watching her friends die one by one. She was certainly late to the after party, but we are sure they are all dancing and singing above together now.
She had a howling laugh that radiated the room. She had a sense of humor that would make you fall off your chair laughing. She had spirit. Sass. Determination. Love. And most of all, no matter what tragedy had entered her life, she lived with gratitude.
She was passionate about fighting for all humans to have equal rights, throwing the remote at the tv with some choice words when she didn’t like the news, loved reciting poems and singing songs, reading books, always learning new things, catching up with friends and seeing pictures of family on Facebook, and eating anything with sugar in it.
She spent the last days of her life bringing joy and laughter to the hospice nurses and basking in the glow of the amount of love she had for her visitors and family, including her three children, Renee (Tom) Sherman, Erik (Glenda) Parker, Barton Parker; her grandchildren Erika (Mark), Brooke (Dan), Jordie (Ashley), Heather (Angelo), Travis, Trent, and Ryan (Toni); ten great grandchildren and counting; her brother Larry (Loetta); and beloved cousins she remained pen pals with all the way up to her last month with us. She was proceeded in death by her parents Howard and Helen Sewell, and brother Howard Sewell Jr.
Marlyn had a very specific wish for her service, which was to have no formal service at all. Her adamant request was to have everyone in the family gather together on a warm sunny day while playing kickball in the yard and cards on the picnic tables. We’ll not only honor her request and celebrate her spirit on that day, but we’ll aspire to carry on forever with the love, patience, laughter, and gratitude that she showed us is possible no matter where our journey takes us...
