Marilyn J. Byers

Marilyn was born July 4, 1931 at the family farm in Buckley to Wilbur LaVerne Bennett and Dorothy Douglas. She was a graduate of Buckley High School and attended nursing school in Petoskey before settling in Traverse City.

She married Wesley Brown in 1951, and together they had two daughters who survive her. She was preceded in death by Wesley in 1971, her two sisters, Elaine Olds and Connie Dudley, and by her second husband and dear friend, Raymond Byers.

Marilyn worked at Osteopathic Hospital from the time it was at the Elks Club location, until the day it closed at its location on Munson Avenue. “Brownie” made many friends over the 44 years of her nursing career, and was still having monthly dinners with a group of them. She was happiest surrounded by family and friends, especially on the deck overlooking Silver Lake. She enjoyed visiting, laughing and listening to stories and became an “adopted” grandma to many people along the way. She would spend hours on the phone, catching up on all the news and latest gossip, and spent many hours watching (and stressing!) over the Detroit Tigers and Pistons. In her younger years, she spent a lot of time traveling and snowmobiling, and in her later years enjoyed car rides to the Alden Spice Mill and the A&W in Frankfort.

She leaves behind her two daughters, Cindy (Jim) Dudek and Brenda (John) Whiters, of Traverse City; her granddaughter, Alison (Cory) Hoeppner of Kingsley; and her great-grandson, Jack, whom she adored and who gave her the nickname of “GG”. She was expecting her second great-grandchild, a girl, later this summer. She also leaves behind her extended family, including Rich, Jennifer, Emma and Nicholas Rountree and Melinda, Jade and Sienna Krumlauf, along with her dear nieces and nephews, cousins, neighbors and lifelong, special friends.

A Memorial Service was held on Monday, April 10 at 2:00 p.m. with visitation one hour prior at Covell Funeral Home of Traverse City. A dessert reception followed. Memorial contributions were made to Meals On Wheels or the charity of one’s choice.

Marilyn’s family would like to thank the Munson doctors, nurses and staff in the ICU and C4 for their compassion and care during her final days.

Arrangements were entrusted to Covell Funeral Home of Traverse City.