Marilyn Louise Gentleman

1941 - 2011

Marilyn W. Gentleman was born Marilyn Louise Wicker on Sept. 13, 1941, in Washington, D.C. to Boyce Wicker of Puryear, Tenn. and Kathleen Elsie Vincent of Buffalo, N.Y. Soon the Wicker family relocated to Western New York.

The sudden death of her father had a big effect on Marilyn's teens and later years. She graduated from Amherst Central High School in 1959, State Teacher's College in Buffalo in 1963 with a bachelor's of arts in art education and the University of Buffalo with a master's in elementary and secondary education in 1964. She started teaching at Sidway School in Grand Island, N.Y., staying there two years.

In 1965, she and Dennis M. Gentleman were wed in Snyder, N.Y., and honeymooned at Niagara Falls. Dennis was in the Air Force, and after more training, they moved to their first assignment at Eielson Air Force Base.

Marilyn had arranged her own employment and, arriving in late August 1966, started teaching kindergarten at Salcha and Adler schools. She later taught at North Pole Elementary and worked at Fairbanks North Star Borough School District Curriculum Services Center with a wonderful group, including Jo Scott, a special friend.

With the birth of their first child in 1970, she became a stay-at-home mom and babysitter for children of friends. Joel, Kevin and daughter Mandy soon followed son Mitchell. A surgery on her 40th birthday resulted in paraparesis and a wheelchair. Had that surgery not been done, death would have occurred within hours. While intermittent at first, the wheelchair's use became more frequent as time went on. Other surgeries, a 2009 injury and a chronic disease discovered in 1997 continued to weaken her. The progress of that disease recently resulted in confinement to bed for the most part and full-time care until her peaceful passing on June 29, 2011.

The last 30 years were not without the busy times of continuing as mother to four children and being a homemaker, artist and example of strength and courage in adversity. In 1999, she began helping the local Special Olympics effort with computer and paperwork to include producing and publishing a monthly newsletter for several years.

Marilyn was preceded in death by her parents, one uncle and several aunts.

She is survived by her husband of 45 years, Dennis; sisters, Patricia Wicker and Joan Brundage (husband Pete); favorite Uncle Ronald; cousins Bob and Adele; nephews and nieces; her sons and wives, Mitch and Kristie, Joel and Tawnya and Kevin and Jennifer; daughter Mandy; special daughters Melissa and Lynno; 11 grandchildren; numerous in-laws; and several honorary daughters, including Sarah, Kristy, Angela, Barbara, Joanne and many others who brought joy, comfort, and laughter to her home. The many friends she made over the years from Special Olympics were all considered family.

Her spiritual belief gave her strength and hope, which carried over to others. Her favorite saying was: "Live as if you'll die tomorrow, plan as if you'll live forever."

Memorial services are planned for 4 p.m., Sunday, July 10, at the Alaska Centennial Center for the Arts, Pioneer Park. In lieu of flowers, please consider donations to Special Olympics Tanana Valley, 2506 Kuskokwim St., Fairbanks, AK 99709, 474-0568 or Hospice of the Tanana Valley.

Arrangements were entrusted to Chapel of Chimes Funeral Home.