She was born on August 9, 1935, in Belleville, IL, to her parents, Irvin and Olinda Ebel. Marilyn grew up in Belleville and attended Belleville Township High School, graduating in the class of 1953. She then attended Southern Illinois University in Carbondale, where she met Lyle, whom she married on April 23, 1955. She was baptized as one of Jehovah’s Witnesses on September 25, 1977 and attended meetings with the North Congregation in Belleville.
Marilyn had a beautiful smile and loved life, her family and friends, playing games, flowers, the wonderment of God’s creation, and had a passion for helping others learn about the wonderful promises contained in the Bible for the future. She looked forward to the day when Jehovah God will fulfill His promise to remove this present wicked system of things and bring about a righteous new earth where people will live in peace, harmony and security. She now rests in God’s memory until, by means of the resurrection, she can experience the reality of her hope.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Irvin O. and Olinda C., nee Hassler, Ebel; a sister, Shirley M. Seiler; a brother-in-law, Edward Seiler; and a sister-in-law, Dianne Braddock.
She is survived by her husband of 61 years, Lyle L. Reed;
three children, Lyle Lindsay (Laura) Reed Jr.,
Rebecca (David) DeForest,
and Vincent (Emma) Reed;
one granddaughter, Malorie (Kevin) Pons;
and one nephew, Paul Seiler, all of whom she loved dearly.
Condolences may be expressed to the family online at www.rennerfh.com.
Visitation: A visitation will be held from 5 to 7 p.m. Monday, June 6, 2016, at the Kingdom Hall of Jehovah’s Witnesses, 3187 Carlyle Avenue, Belleville, IL. A memorial talk will follow at 7 p.m.
Funeral: Burial will be a private occasion.