Marcelyn Dean

BURLEY – On the morning of October 31, 2025, Marcelyn Hammond Dean passed away at the age of 90, while being cared for by the staff at Rosetta Assisted Living in Burley and Horizon Home Health & Hospice.
Marcelyn was born to Dean Bauman and Constance Lewis Hammond in Logan, Utah, on March 23, 1935. She spent the start of her life in Utah, then when she was two years old the family moved to Rupert, Idaho, for her father's work at Amalgamated Sugar Co. Shortly after, they settled in Paul, Idaho, where Marcelyn attended all twelve years of schooling in the single building schoolhouse that housed all grades. Marcelyn was an excellent student and graduated valedictorian of her class in 1953. She was very active in drama and musical productions, and loved to kick up her heels at local dances around the area. She was nine years old when she started piano lessons, which started a lifelong love affair with the instrument, and gave her countless hours of enjoyment.
After graduating high school, she attended her freshman year of college at Brigham Young University in Provo, Utah, and attended the L.D.S. Business College the following year where she served on the student council, and graduated with an associate's degree. While in Utah, Marcelyn continued her music education studying the piano under Professor Gerrit de Jong, who encouraged her to continue her musical education at Julliard, but New York seemed too far away. Despite this, her musical talent continued to grow throughout the remainder of her life. Marcelyn then lived in Salt Lake City for a time, where she worked at the University of Utah Law School as a secretary.
Marcelyn eventually returned to Idaho, where she began living in Burley and working at the School District Central Office. Marcelyn began dating Robert Dean at this time, who she had met many years prior. She was struck by his great sense of humor and their relationship blossomed to one of friendship, love, and respect. They were married on July 8, 1964, in the Salt Lake Temple in Salt Lake City, Utah. The couple welcomed their son, Phillip Hammond Dean, in 1965, with Melanie Dean following in 1969.
While Marcelyn enjoyed her role as a mother, her love of music never waned. She was a piano teacher for many years, and is remembered fondly by her students. She was also an active member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints where she held many callings, including serving as a member of the Relief Society presidency. Her callings also included many that utilized her musical talents, serving as ward choir leader and providing beautiful preludes and postludes to church services. Beyond her contributions to the church, she was involved in many productions in the community, as an accomplished accompanist and solo performer.
Marcelyn referred to herself as a "go-go girl" and her life reflected that. She loved to travel, including many trips to Europe, and even an insane coast-to-coast U.S. road trip all in a single summer, while packing along her two small children. She spent many happy summers at the cabin, north of Ketchum, Idaho, where she enjoyed activities from hiking long mountain trails, to relaxing on the porch in the evenings. She was an avid reader, loved needlepoint, and anything to do with the great outdoors (except for camping!) She deeply enjoyed playing Burley Rummy with her family and her card club, who met monthly for many years and formed life-long friendships.
Marcelyn was preceded in death by her parents and husband. She is survived by her son, Phillip (Stacy); her daughter, Melanie; and her grandchildren, JD, Tyler, Lindsay, and Lauren; and her brother, Boyd (Yvonne) Hammond.
Despite battling Alzheimer's, Marcelyn fondly remembered her family and friends until the end.
The family wishes to extend their thanks to the staff at Rosetta Assisted Living, Paul and Susan Young, and to Jeff Rasmussen for their love and care of Marcelyn.
Arrangements have been entrusted to the care of Rasmussen-Wilson Funeral Home of Burley.