Marilyn Vinson Georges

MARILYN VINSON GEORGES, the widow of Basil Georges, died, peacefully surrounded by her family, of advanced Alzheimer's in Tulsa, Oklahoma. She was 81 years old. Magic Marilyn, a fitting and frequent nickname, was born to Bailie and Jewel Vinson in Tulsa, Oklahoma on the 27th September 1927. She had two younger sisters, Jeanne and Suzanne, and together the three sisters were like the three graces with a healthy smirk of mischief and fun. Marilyn's volunteer work during WWII would spark a life long fascination with the lore, ideals and sacrifices of that period. She graduated from Holland Hall in Tulsa and briefly attended the University of Oklahoma till she met and married Charles Grant and gave birth to three girls: Jeanne, Kathy and Chrissy. Beloved were her three girls although her marriage soon evolved into a deep and enduring friendship. Active in the Junior League, a delegate for the Republican Party and a member of Southern Hills Country Club in Tulsa, Marilyn was an early and active champion for women's rights, specifically a woman's right of choice. Stricken with a severed nerve in her neck, Marilyn chose life threatening surgery over losing the use of her right arm, illustrating her belief of quality over quantity of life. After meeting Basil Georges in Dallas, they married and had three children: Alexander James, Poppi Eleni and Suzanne Vinson and joined Brookhollow Country Club. They settled in Houston where they were active supporters of the Greek Orthodox Church, St. John's School and River Oaks Country Club. A passionate reader and "more Greek than my husband", she was a dear friend of River Oaks Bookstore and Mykanos restaurant. Famous for inviting throngs of people to her house on Christmas Eve for chili and caroling, Marilyn was a generous and unpretentious hostess. Deeper still, when faced with tragedy, the loss of her sister Suzanne and two of her children, Alexander and Jeanne, she carried herself with a strength, dignity and grace which recalled the keep calm and carry on attitude of the WWII period she so adored and with which she identified. In later years, Marilyn was instrumental in founding MBA schools in Russia, fulfilling a talent in interior design and exploring the world. A devoted wife, mother, grandmother and great grandmother, Marilyn always had time, energy and happiness to give. Marilyn used to joke that she sat on the board of Air Florida "so they would have something to write in my obituary besides Mother". She was a mother, but to more than just her offspring. Everyone who shared a laugh with that divine whiskey and gravel voice came under her care and that was her magic. Friends are cordially invited to a visitation with the family six until eight o'clock in the evening on Monday, the 11th of May, in the Jasek Chapel of Geo. H. Lewis & Sons, 1010 Bering Drive in Houston, with Trisagion Prayers commencing at half-past six o'clock in the evening. The funeral service to be conducted at ten o'clock in the morning on Tuesday, the 12th of May, at Annunciation Greek Orthodox Cathedral, 3511 Yoakum Boulevard in Houston, with the Cathedral Clergy officiating. The interment will follow, via an escorted cortege, at Glenwood Cemetery, 2525 Washington Avenue in Houston.