Marilyn Sue (Bolin) Bland was born in her home in Shannon County near Eminence, Missouri, on Thanksgiving Day, November 21, 1940, to Leverett “Jim” and Berniece (Baker) Bolin. Her heavenly soul passed from her earthly body on July 3, 2022, at the age of 81.
Marilyn was united in marriage to Curtis D. Bland, the love of her life, at the age of 16 in Hernando, Mississippi. They were married for 44 years until Curt’s passing in 2001. To this union two sons were born, James Dale and Curtis Anthony “Tony”.
She attended school at Munsell until the sixth grade and then spent the rest of her school years at Eminence until she decided to become a wife and homemaker. Learning was very important to Marilyn and she later took courses and earned her GED, which accomplished her goal of finishing high school.
Marilyn took EMT classes and worked at various jobs throughout her life, including Boyd’s Store, Ward’s Grocery Store, waitressing at Bolin’s Restaurant and Byrne’s T-shirt Shop to name a few. Marilyn’s favorite “job” was babysitting her granddaughters.
Family was the most important and fulfilling aspect in Marilyn’s life. Whether it was taking care of her elderly mom, dad and aunt, or the love of her life in his last days. Her greatest joy were her grandchildren. She would do everything with them from playing games, Barbie’s and Jack’s, to later teaching them how to cook, bake, and sew.
Marilyn loved to help others; she loved to volunteer at church, school, sport, or any other community functions.
On most days you could find Marilyn outside. She would walk multiple miles each day, grew everything from tomatoes to roses in her yearly gardens, refused to let anyone else mow or weed eat her yard, and would sit and watch the birds, hummingbirds, and squirrels eat out of her feeders in the evenings. She was an avid reader of books, magazines, and newspapers. If she could find a reason to cook or bake, she would seize the opportunity. Marilyn loved to fill every minute of her days with being busy.
Marilyn’s most passionate hobby was sewing. She started sewing clothes for her granddaughters, Courtney and Cassidy and then began making Halloween costumes for all three of her grandchildren. She found her niche when she decided to try something new and make a quilt. Almost immediately her quilts were unbelievable masterpieces that were quickly sought after by many, however, she continued to mostly make them for friends and family that still treasure them to this day.
Marilyn was preceded in death by her husband, Curtis; her parents, Leverett “Jim” and Berniece (Baker) Bolin; her brother, Jay Bolin; and her aunt, Evelyn (Bolin) Sapp.
She leaves to mourn her youngest son, Curtis “Tony” and Emma (Dyer) Bland of Eminence; granddaughters, Courtney Elizabeth and Cassidy Danielle Bland of Nashville, TN. Her eldest son, James D. Bland, and grandson, Cameron J. Bland. Her cousins, Lynne and Ken Sowles of Phoenix, AZ; two sisters-in-law, Jean Cole and Jewell Lovins; and a host of nieces, nephews, and friends.
Marilyn will be dearly missed by all who knew and loved her.
