Marilyn Louise Thomas

Marilyn Louise Thomas, age 56, of Grants Pass, passed away on Tuesday, March 2, 2010 at her home.

She was born July 19, 1953 at Moline, Illinois to Louis D. Thomas and Eva Louise Burns. She was the oldest of their 4 children. She grew up in Moline and graduated from Moline High School in 1972. She worked at Dixon State Hospital in Dixon, Illinois. She married John Simmons at Dixon, Illinois in 1973. Sixteen days after they were married, on his first day back to work after their honeymoon, he died in an industrial accident. On August 21, 1975, she married Juan Luis Martinez. They had two children. In 1981, she moved to Grants Pass, Oregon. She worked at Asante Three Rivers Home Health Care. Her husband, Juan passed away in 1983 in an auto accident in Grants Pass.

She dedicated her life to raising her children and had the joy seeing both of them graduate from Grants Pass High School in 1995 and later get married.

She loved the Oregon coast, including Gold Beach and Harris Beach. She enjoyed working with the elderly, watching television, her flowers, gardening, roses and baking cookies. Her dog, Lucy Lou was her constant companion. On August 14, 2005, she joined the Wilderville Community United Methodist Church. She was also a member of the United Methodist Women.

She is survived by her son and daughter in law, Louis and Anna Martinez of Junction City, OR and her daughter and son in law, LaDawn and Brian Sutch of Grants Pass, OR. Her father, Louis D. Thomas of Vernon, Alabama, her sisters: Carolyn Thomas of Pigeon Forge, Tennessee and Sheila Thompson of St. Louis, Missouri; Seven nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her husbands, her mother and her brother David Thomas.

A Service of Death and Resurrection celebrating her life was held on Monday, March 8, 2010 at the Wilderville Community United Methodist Church. Hull & Hull Funeral Directors were in charge of arrangements.

Memorial contributions may be made to Wilderville Community United Methodist Church, P.O. Box 645, Wilderville, Oregon 97543 or Planned Parenthood,160 NW Franklin Blvd, Grants Pass, OR 97526.