Marilyn Craig Hynson

Marilyn Craig Hynson, 86, of Haiku gracefully died Dec. 2, 2014 in her home. A service will be held at 10 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 13 at Trinity by the Sea Episcopal Church in Kihei, followed by a reception from 11 a.m. to noon in the church’s Parish Hall. Family members will bury Marilyn’s ashes at a later date.

Marilyn was born March 9, 1928 at Queens Hospital in Honolulu, Hawaii, the daughter of Alfred Leslie Craig and Hallie Marvin. Growing up in her family home in Manoa Valley, Marilyn embraced the life of a daughter of Hawaii. Marilyn had many facets. She attended Central Union Church weekly and was a member of the choir. Tickets to USO dances were saved in her scrapbook. We have some pictorial evidence of her life growing up on Oahu, as well as tales told by her brothers, Robert and Marvin, and sister, Myra, though the family dog never talked. A good student, her later years of high school were disrupted by the war. She graduated from Punahou School in 1945.

Marilyn attended the University of Southern California, and soon met the love of her life, Herbert R. Hynson, a Naval Lieutenant. They were married July 24, 1948 in Pasadena, California. Marilyn embraced the life of a Naval officer’s wife. Herb and Marilyn built a career together. A proud and supportive wife, Marilyn was always the gracious and welcoming hostess, sharing Aloha as Herb later entered corporate life. They moved to Maui in 1969. Her beautiful voice accompanied by her autoharp were often heard weekends with friends and family in old Makena and Kihei.

Marilyn always felt the call to volunteerism, guided by her deeply felt spiritual life. As a young woman, she was introduced to the PEO by her mother and served as the President of the various chapters where she resided. The advancement of women through education was always a very important issue for her. Church life as well had a strong place in her life, singing in the choir, a member of the altar guild, and many volunteer activities. Marilyn and Herb helped found Trinity by the Sea in Kihei. She was a well respected kapuna in the church in her later years.

Learning to sew as a young woman, Marilyn expanded her repertoire in the textile arts, eventually settling on quilt making. Marilyn’s finely detailed and hand sewn Hawaiian quilts were exhibited in Hawaii, Canada and Japan. At her passing she was working on her eighth Hawaiian quilt.

We her children thank her for her guidance and support. She is survived by two sons, Stephen of Haiku, Hawaii, and James of Waihee, Hawaii; a daughter Leslie Ann Spencer of Haiku, eight grandchildren and and six great grandchildren. She was deeply loved and will be missed by all.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made in Marilyn’s name to Trinity by the Sea, Kihei, Hawaii.