Marilyn Lee Small

Marilyn Lee Small

Cedar Rapids

Marilyn Lee Small, 92, of Cedar Rapids, died Friday, February 20, 2026 at West Ridge Care Center. Graveside service: 10 a.m. Saturday, February 28, 2026 at Rose Hill Cemetery in Blockton. Teahen Funeral Home is caring for Marilyn and her family.

Mercy Iowa City was the place to be on July 28, 1933, because that was the day Marilyn Lee was born to Merton and Bernice (Moon) Ihrig. Her first words upon arrival, so they say, were “I really want a baby sister and big orange hot air ballon and in that order…please.” Because of this request, on April 11, 1938, Carolyn Sue entered the family and became Marilyn’s best friend for life. Carolyn went on to graduate from kindergarten, marry Gary King and become a loving mother to three darling children—Elinor Lee, John Edward and Mary Ellen. Her grandchild is Elinor’s daughter Grace. And Marilyn is still waiting for the balloon, but she had her fill of hot air!

The Ihrig family of four moved from Iowa City to Grinnell, then later to Sioux City. When Marilyn was ready for eighth grade, Mother and Dad bought a farm near Blockton in southwest Iowa where Mother was born and grew up. There Marilyn graduated from high school, then from Tarkio College in Tarkio, Missouri, and from there came to Cedar Rapids in 1955 to teach at Wilson Junior High School. While in college she met a darling boy named Hank. They were together from that time on and were married in 1957.

Marilyn was not only intensely interested in Hank, but was fascinated by history and archeology. Also, writing poetry or expressing herself on paper with humor or thoughtful meditations provided outlets for her active imagination.

Marilyn’s deep love for animals began early in childhood when her mother discovered she was enticing stray creatures to come home with her. Cricket Lynn was the cherished Ihrig dog for eighteen years. Hank and Marilyn shared the love for their precious furry friends over the years—Silverboy’s Darling Augusta, P.C. (Pussy Cat) Louise, Precious Abigail Marie, Baby Daffodil Elizabeth and Harriet Marie.

Music always had a special place in her life, from Marilyn’s first solo in a kindergarten program to high school productions. College provided her with wonderful musical experiences and she was appreciative of being on call for weddings, funerals and other gatherings. In between all this she was a regular in church choirs.

Marilyn didn’t knit, crochet, embroider, play golf, jump rope or pitch for the Cubs. However, she enjoyed being with her friends and laughing and joking, doing anything with sister Carolyn, flowers wild and domestic, trying to keep her house plants from committing suicide, playing “twitch me if you can” with cat Harriet Marie’s tail, holding hands with the cute college boy she married, reading her favorite newspaper, The Cedar Rapids Gazette, front to back, inside out and upside down each day and checking in with TV Channel 9 folks to see what is going on in the world and also learn weather expectations for venturing outside at any time. If she were planning a community chocolate eat-a-thon in the parking lot behind her condo, trusting Channel 9 weather people was vital. Fortunately these activities didn’t leave her much time to get into trouble, thank goodness.

She was really privileged to have lived this many years. She served with love in her heart in community volunteer work, Sunday school and church activities, and chapter DK P.E.O. She was a member of St. Mark’s United Methodist Church. Hank and she were blessed and humbled by the opportunities they found over the years to help others in need. They were strengthened by the truth that God’s love is limitless, and it embraces everyone.

Resting in Rose Hill Cemetery at Blockton finds Marilyn in good company with Mother, Dad, several generations of grandparents, and beloved aunts, uncles and cousins. That is just the place for her and her family now that this life here on earth has come to an end and new life is beginning. Thank you, Lord, for Marilyn’s wonderful adventure here on earth—and GO HAWKS!

Heartfelt thanks for Marilyn’s loving caregivers at Meadow View Memory Care, West Ridge Care Center, and from Suncrest Hospice.

Memorials may be directed to HACAP.

Online condolences can be left at www.teahenfuneralhome.com.