Marilyn (Macon) Phelps

Marilyn (Macon) Phelps

Toddville

Marilyn (Macon) Phelps, 95, passed away Wednesday, Aug. 30, 2023, at Emery Place Assisted Living, in Robins, Iowa. There will be no services, as Marilyn wished to donate her body to the University of Iowa Deeded Body Program, to study Dementia and Alzheimer’s.

Survivors include a son, Jim (Susan) Phelps of Toddville; daughter, Kathy Phelps Varney (Allen) of Cedar Rapids; granddaughter, Kelly Hogan of Cedar Rapids; grandson, Jason (Stacie) Phelps of Kewanee, Ill.; and seven great-grandchildren.

Marilyn was born July 3, 1928, in Washington, Iowa, Marilyn graduated from Springville High School in 1946. She attended the University of Iowa as an art student, then went to work at Killian’s Department Store in the display department. She was married to Dale H. Phelps in 1949, and they owned and operated Phelps Furniture in Tipton for several years. They were later divorced. She had a lifelong career in advertising and publishing.

She also worked 20 years at the William C. Brown Co., college textbook company in Dubuque and Madison, Wis., as manager of design, retiring from there in 1995. She then moved to Marion, where she was manager at the Marion Library bookstore for several years as a volunteer.

Marilyn had a love for art and painting, animals, history, jazz and classical music, books, and was an avid reader. She promoted education and equal rights for all people, and was a kind and thoughtful Mom, Grandma and Nana to her family.

She was preceded in death by her brother, Robert Macon; sister, Delores Sherrod; and her parents, John and Cecil Macon.

Memorials may be made to the Marion Public Library, Planned Parenthood, Public Radio KCCK or to the local humane shelter in her name.

Please share your support and memories with Marilyn’s family on her Tribute Wall at www.stewartbaxter.com under obituaries.