A fellow ponder has been called to the Lord.  He must have a plan for a very beautiful pond and only she can build it.  Our rememberances of Marilyn will be a little different for all of us, but the first time I remember her is at the building of the pond at the Arboretum.   Marilyn was not afraid of work.  For those several weekends, she dug, she hauled rocks, she pushed overflowing wheelbarrows, she knew how to handle a sharpshooter and shovel, and yet she did it with a gracefullness we have never seen before. 

When someone mentioned ponding Marilyn was there with a wisdom far reaching.  She knew the best mediums for growing plants, she knew the proper method for planting those plants, and she knew the plants, and yet she did it with a gracefullness we have never seen before.     

When you asked for information she made it seem as if you were in the know and helped you come to the right conclusion, and yet she did it with a gracefullness we have never seen before.      

When you needed a plant, Marilyn always had one to share with you (she fully expected that you would take just a part and pass it on to another ponder) and yet she did it with a gracefullness we have never seen before.    

When you were looking for a special plant like a Green Smoke for that special someone in your life, she left you a message on the recorder and yet she did it with a gracefullness we have never heard before.  

Everyday of our lives we will remember her through the plants she shared, the most magnificent Baby Red, the prolific bloomer Joy Tomocik, the outstanding Colorado, and the Pickerel and yet she shared with a gracefullness we have never seen before.   

Marilyn will live on long after we are all gone through our passing of her treasurers to others and we can only hope that we can do it with a hundredth of her gracefullness.  Her gracefullness we have never seen before.   

Marilyn was a giant of a lady in work ethic, in knowledge, in caring and sharing  and with a gracefullness we have never seen before.   We love you, Marilyn.  Get that pond ready and we will join you to again feel your gracefullness we have never seen before  YOU!!!!!!!

by Barb Schafer

We lost our dear friend and fellow ponder on August 14th, 2002. She will be in our hearts forever and she will be missed by all.