Marilyn Louise Hardy Scheffel

CHAPEL HILL, N.C -- Marilyn Louise Hardy Scheffel, died peacefully Sunday, May 22, 2016. She was born on February 18, 1938, at 12:01 p.m. in Elvins, Missouri, the daughter of Amos Owen and Mary Louise Meyer Hardy. Mrs. Scheffel was preceded in death by her adoring husband of 55 years Kenneth George Scheffel in 2013.

Marilyn graduated from Elvins High School in 1956 where she was very active in the marching band playing the flute, Homecoming Queen and received the Home Economics Award. She then went on to college at the University of Missouri - Columbia, where she was a member of the Alpha Chi Omega sorority. This is where she fell in love with her Chemistry Teaching Assistant, Ken. They were married on June 6, 1959, after Marilyn graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Education degree and a Lifetime Teaching Certificate in Secondary education. Marilyn then traveled with her husband around the country with his work as a devoted wife and mother of four. She lived in 9 different states and more than 15 cities, finally retiring to their home at The Governor's Club in Chapel Hill, N.C. She took pride in decorating and designing several houses herself and she devoted her life to raising her children.

Marilyn was socially active as a member of Women's clubs in all the cities she lived and enjoyed entertaining, cooking, painting, sewing, ceramics and singing. She was active in various choirs over the years. She loved to travel the world with Ken and later in life they enjoyed taking cruises. She loved to sit and watch the surf and listen to the waves in Hilton Head, South Carolina, during big family vacations, especially with her grandchildren by her side. She was an animal lover and always had a dog or cat or both in the house. She always knew how to bring her family together for big holiday meals and special occasions. Marilyn loved a house full of family and will be greatly missed.

Marilyn was greatly loved by her family and survived by her four children, Steven M. Scheffel, Lauri N Scheffel, Sherri L Dunn and husband Jim, and Elizabeth Northup and husband Brad. She will be dearly missed by her eleven loving grandchildren, Sarah, Amanda and Curtis Scheffel; Ryan and Allyson Huber; Jack, Haley and Megan Dunn; Reagan, Tyler and Katelyn Northup. Marilyn is also survived by her brother and sister-in-law, Dr. Stanton and Jean Hardy and their children and brother-in-law and sister-in-law, Konrad and Karen Scheffel and their children.

Funeral services will be held at 4 o'clock, Sunday afternoon, May 29, 2016, at Clancy Strickland Wheeler Funeral Home. A private burial will be held at 10 o'clock Monday morning, May 30, 2016, at Wake Memorial Park, Cary, North Carolina. Memorial contributions can be made to Alzheimer's Association Eastern North Carolina Chapter, The Cumberland Building, 3739 National Drive, Suite 110, Raleigh, NC 27612. Arrangements are by Clancy Strickland Wheeler Funeral Home and Cremation Service, 1051 Durham Road, Wake Forest, NC 27587. 919-556-7400. www.cswfuneralhome.com.