Marilyn Faye (Parkin) Paisley

We are so sad and regret to announce the passing of our mom, Marilyn Paisley on the evening of November 11th. She passed quickly after a slow long illness, surrounded by the love & presence of her children Russel & Laura and her niece Jodie. Marilyn was born the 4th and last child to Vic & Helen Parkin. She was also the last of that little family as she was predeceased by both parents and her siblings Noni McClure, Donna Robertson & George Parkin. Left to mourn: her beloved cat Norman, he was her number 1, followed by her children; Russel Paisley & Laura Richter (Rob). Grandchildren: Zachary, Lynnae, Brayden, Richard & Jennifer. Great grandkids: Leah, Emma & Holly (She loved all her grandkids & great grand monsters so much, she was so proud of them). As well as way too many nieces & nephews to list as her siblings were a prolific bunch. Many thank you’s to the nurses, multiple various Dr.’s and her wonderful care aids, some of which mom adored (you know who you are). To Dr.Booth who she thought hung the moon, thank you for so, so much. They all took such loving care of mom and to her friends who kept in touch, she loved you. Thank you.

Some things you maybe didn’t know: As she was the youngest of the family, she was also the watcher of her siblings many, many children when they went back to work, most of them closer in age to her than her siblings, they remained close. This also made her hold off on kids until later in life, after she lived a little. Literature, Genealogy, Music (often random and obscure), Astrology, Numerology, the list could go on and on. Her thirst for knowledge, her love of music, her penchant for picking up strays, both the 2 & 4 footed varieties was endless. Often times having a house full of teens that were not hers, but she treated them as if they were, and her incredible numbers of felines that found their way to her, she loved them all. Often times whist talking, she would break into some random song that her father used to play that her mother found offensive, or maybe the “classics “or possibly something odd from Frank Zappa. There were very few conversations that didn’t have one tossed in. Most recently she shared her love of music with her great granddaughters by hauling out the old Elvis records. She was so happy to share her love of music and do that. Marilyn knew her days were numbered and one of the last things she requested was to hear the new Rolling Stones CD, she very much enjoyed that, and also to make sure she lived long enough that they found the killer on her favorite show Coronation St. (she did).

She was so much more than I can write, she was blunt, to the point, full of information, ideas, suggestions, some opinions you didn’t like, but she would give them to you anyway. She hated cooking & cleaning; housekeeping was nowhere in her vocabulary, her baking was lumpy, mixing was overrated, it was like winning a lottery if you didn’t get a mouthful of baking powder while eating. She did make an amazing chocolate oatmeal cookie and gumdrop bread (still lumpy, but gumdrops made up for that). She raised us as a single mom, she worked so hard to give us the things we wanted and needed often going without herself.

She was married To Wayne Paisley from 1965 - 1976, then remained happily divorced and separate until his stroke in 2001, upon which she allowed him to move into her little place as he couldn’t live alone any longer. After some renovations and a separate room to keep him in & to accommodate a large man with a large wheelchair. As he was only given a few years and couldn’t speak (one of her complaints about him was he could prior) she was ok with sharing her space…But wouldn’t ya know it, he lasted another 13 years, she wasn’t super excited. Rest easy Dad.

I tell you, this woman, our mom was a saint for this. Most of all, this woman was an amazing powerhouse in a teeny tiny body. She was something different to everyone. She was the giver of advice that I will miss greatly, she was the person to call with any news, good or bad. You want to know some random thing from the dark ages, literature, music, poetry or something else? She would know, she always knew, always. She will be missed so, so much. If one wishes, donations can be made to whatever your heart desires. She would want you to do something nice for yourself, so go do it and smile and remember what she was to you. She would prefer your laughter to your tears.

Forever missed, forever loved.

Rest in Peace mom.