Marilyn June Smucker

Marilyn June (Miller) Smucker was born on June 22, 1935, to William Howard and Esta (Stutzman) Miller and passed away after a stroke early in the morning on August 31, 2024. She was born in Milford, Nebraska, and lived there until her family moved to Albany, OR, during her teenage years. Her father had brought the family to Oregon for a vacation, not knowing they would be remaining in Oregon and never moving back to Nebraska. She graduated from Albany Union High School in 1953.
Marilyn met Elden Roy Smucker at a Fairview Mennonite Church youth meeting, and they got married on September 16, 1956. Together, they farmed in Harrisburg, OR, for the first eleven years of their marriage. During that time, they started their family with a son, Doug, and two daughters, Debbie and Tami.
In 1967, Elden and Marilyn left farming and moved to Albany to start several different businesses. After several years, they sold the businesses, Elden went into full-time ministry at Albany First Assembly of God church, and Marilyn became a full-time pastor's wife. She worked, alongside her husband, in Womens' ministries and with children's and youth summer camps. She loved to entertain people in her home, especially family.
In 1977, Elden and Marilyn moved to Junction City, OR, where they went on staff at Christ's Center Church. In 1981, Christ's Center helped them start a church plant in Beaver Crossing, Nebraska, where they worked side by side for three years. In 1984, they moved back to Junction City for a short time and continued to minister as a couple at several Assembly of God churches around Oregon, including Alpine, Springfield, Salem, and Brooks. Marilyn ministered at her husband's side as he was Lead Pastor, Associate Pastor, and Senior Adult pastor and also accompanied him to Oregon State Correctional Institute (OSCI) to minister there.
In 2007, Elden and Marilyn retired from the ministry and relocated to Junction City to be closer to their children. In 2021, they moved to an Assisted Living facility in Springfield, Oregon, where Marilyn continued to minister to staff and nurses and other residents at the facility until her death.
On September 20, 2023, Marilyn lost the love of her life after 67 years, four days after their anniversary. Marilyn joined him sixteen days before what would have been their 68th anniversary. They never spent an anniversary apart.
Marilyn was preceded in death by her husband, Elden; parents, William Howard and Esta (Stutzman) Miller; brother, Eldon Miller; sister, Arla Mae Neuschwander; and son-in-law, Bruce Sullenger.
Survivors include a sister, Ruth (Lonny) Vogt; brothers, Rich (Sharon) Miller and Bill (DeWanda) Miller; and her children, Doug (Bev) Smucker, Debbie Smucker, and Tami Sullenger. Marilyn had five grandsons, Matthew (Holly) Smucker, Michael Smucker, Sean (Emily) Sullenger, Ben (Annika) Sullenger, and Aaron Sullenger. There were seven great-grandchildren with another to be born in the next couple of months.