Marilyn Jean (Heikes) Martin was born on a farm in Athelstane Township, Clay County, Kansas, December 31, 1928, the sixth and youngest child of Ralph and Lillie (Daniels) Heikes. She graduated from

Clay County Community High School in 1946 and subsequently taught at Mount Olive and Four Mile Grade Schools. On September 5, 1948, she was married to Gene Martin, and she and Gene established their home in Union Township. To this union were born three children, Philip, Douglas, and Marita.

Marilyn directed a nursery school for six years, and for many years was the dispatcher for the Senior Citizens’ Transportation. After recovering from a debilitating stroke, she went on to get her preaching license in the United Methodist Church and served several multi-point congregations before her retirement. Marilyn was passionate about writing poetry and genealogy and traveled to Pennsylvania and Germany to learn more about her roots.

Marilyn is survived by her son, Philip Martin, her daughter-in-law, Debra Martin and daughter Marita (Martin) and husband Brett Wolgast, ten grandchildren, twenty-one great-grandchildren, her sister, Evelyn (Heikes) Mugler, and sisters-in-law, Ruth (Fasse) Heikes and JoAnn (Martin) Bauer. She was preceded in death by her husband, Gene Martin; parents; son, Douglas Martin; daughter-in-law, Jeanne Ballou Martin; and siblings Hazel (Heikes) Wright, Richard Heikes, Leona Heikes, and Ray Heikes.

Marilyn has resided at the Presbyterian Manor since 2014, and the family is grateful for the fine care she has received through the years. 

Funeral Services: December 29, 2023, at 10:30 AM at the Clay Center United Methodist Church in Clay Center, KS 

Visitation: December 29, 2023, from 9:30AM until service time at Clay Center United Methodist Church

Memorials:  Clay Center Presbyterian Manor, Clay Center United Methodist Church or the Mizpah United Methodist Church c/o the funeral home