Marilyn Louise Dyer Orr

Passed Away on April 15, 2025

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Marilyn was born November 5, 1945 to William Carl and Audrey Joyce Terry Dyer in Warrensburg, Missouri, one of 4 children.  She was raised a farming and country girl, primarily in Centerview, Missouri area, where her family operated a country store and gas station, for many years, while living next door.  During her teenaged years her family left the retail business to enter full time farming, moving just up the road.  Their store, gas station and home, fittingly, became their Countryside Church of the Nazarene and parsonage and remains so today.

 

In 1962, just in time for her senior year of high school, Marilyn’s family packed up and moved to Mesa, Arizona, joining other Dyer family from Missouri.  She spent her last year of high school as a jackrabbit, graduating Mesa High School Class of ’63.

 

It was during this time that Marilyn met Bob Weidner at Mesa First Church of the Nazarene, where they and both of their families attended.  They were married in the church shortly thereafter, making their home in Mesa. In July of ’66, Bob and Marilyn welcomed, by adoption, a long-awaited newborn baby girl, Wendolyn Renae.

 

In 1972 Marilyn met and married Gerald Kearns, making their home in both Mesa, then Chandler. Together, in July of ’74, Gerald and Marilyn welcomed a new baby girl. Shannon Gail became new baby sister and playmate to Wendy and completed a family of four.

 

Marilyn spent most of her career as a talented and hardworking secretary and bookkeeper; first for Talley Defense Systems in Mesa, then for twenty plus years for the Hickey and Cullumber families at Central Construction Company in Chandler.  In her later years she took her great love of housekeeping into other’s homes to work them to a sparkling shine.  She also grew a great fondness for retired winter visitors, and they for her, caring for nearly 30 homes each summer while their residents were away, then readying their homes for their fall return.

 

Once Marilyn hung up her mop and bucket, with the exception of for a few close friends, she accepted the honor of daily cooking, cleaning and caring for and loving on our sweet Grandpa and Daddy, Cyril Weidner.

 

Those preceding Marilyn in death include her mother and father, Carl and Audrey Dyer, as well as her infant sister, Joyce Ann Dyer and brothers, William and Warren Dyer. Also joining all of Heaven before her was her father-in-law, Cyril Weidner.  Surviving Marilyn are daughters, Wendy (Darwin) Keech and Shannon Kearns.  Also surviving her are 6 grandchildren; Adrienne (Ron) Fazi, Austin (Ashley) Kaiser, Darwin (Thuzar) Keech III, Samantha (Chris Boe) Harnish, Tristan Kearns and Neo Farnham, along with 8 great-grandchildren; Wyatt, Rocco, Natalia, Sage, Amelia, Jaxon, Charlotte and Marley and here longest, dearest sister-in-law and friend, Jan Gilchrist Hickey.

 

Marilyn’s Celebration of Life is being held on Saturday, April 26, 2025 at Journey of Grace (formerly Mesa First) Church of the Nazarene at 955 E University Dr, Mesa, AZ 85201, at 11:00 AM, with a visitation reception beginning at 10:00 AM. All who knew and loved her are welcomed and encouraged to attend.

 

The family thanks Hospice of the Valley for supporting us during her in-home final days.  As well, we thank her caregiver, Mia, who gently cared for her on our work days for a short, but invaluable time.

 

Final care has been entrusted to Mountain View Funeral Home and Cemetery, Mesa, AZ.

 

If desired, memorial gifts in Marilyn’s name, may be made to Journey of Grace Children’s Ministries Wing Project in person, by mail to 955 E University Dr. Mesa, AZ 85203 or through website online giving.  Memorial gifts in her name may also be made to Hospice of the Valley by mail to 1510 E. Flower St. Phoenix AZ 85014 or through HOV online giving.