Marilyn Jane Brown Pierce

Marilyn Jane Brown Pierce, 92, a dear mother and friend, passed away Sunday morning June 23, 2024, in South Jordan, Utah. She was born August 13, 1931, in Salt Lake City, Utah to Merrill F. Brown and Lora Young Brown. She married Elton K. Pierce on August 16, 1949, in the Salt Lake Temple.

As a child, Marilyn had the individual attention of her parents for nearly five years until the birth of her brother and only sibling, Fred. As her mother turned her attention to the baby, Marilyn spent a great deal of time with her father. She loved going places with him and having him read to her. She acquired a love for books and learning from him. She attended West High School and was valedictorian of the Class of 1948.

Marilyn was employed outside the home much of her life. She returned to West High and supervised the audio-visual center for many years. She was fortunate to work there during the time her older children attended and enjoyed associating with many of their friends. She also had the opportunity of working for many years at the Tabernacle on Temple Square recording baptisms. Before retirement, she shared her love for learning with others while working at a Parent Education Resource Center (PERC).

Marilyn was a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and held many church callings. She was a counselor in multiple Relief Society presidencies and was an excellent Relief Society, Primary, and Sunday School teacher. She had a deep love for the gospel and enjoyed associating with dear friends in a study group. She was skilled in public speaking and gave excellent talks. Later in life she completed an 18-month Church Welfare service mission at the newly completed Bishop’s Central Storehouse. She did genealogy indexing up until her death and exceeded 115,000 records.

Marilyn was a charitable woman and shared her time, talents and resources. She read books to children at an elementary school for years. She especially liked poetry. She participated in a book club with friends. She created an organization called “Sharing our Surplus” and gathered excess food from stores and distributed it to those in need. She knitted beautiful sweaters for her children and grandchildren and mittens for refugees. She was a kind and gracious neighbor.

Marilyn had a love for the good and beautiful things of life. She loved to attend theater performances and travel. She took several cruises with her husband and later included her children in their travels. One memorable occasion was a Church History tour to Nauvoo and other Church sites. She traveled to Alaska, Panama, Mexico, Jamacia, Yellowstone, and Washington D.C. A few times she accompanied her daughter on a scuba diving excursion to Catalina Island and took a couple of the older grandchildren with her. A summer highlight was going to a family cabin in the Uintah mountains. She loved gathering with her family and playing games and putting puzzles together. She also loved reading the newspaper and completing crossword puzzles.

Marilyn was preceded in death by her parents, brother (Fred Brown), husband (Elton Klebe), and a grandson. She is survived by her children, Steven Pierce (Malinda), South Jordan, Gail Hunter (Bruce), Riverton, Lee Ellen Stevens (Ken), Taylorsville, Amy Boynton (John), Kingston, WA, many grandchildren, great grandchildren, great-great grandchildren, and honorary son Darrel Mock (Marcie), Bountiful.

Funeral services will be held at 11:00 am, at the Midas Creek 6th Ward, 10860 S 3200 W. South Jordan, Utah. A viewing will also be held on Friday June 28th from 6:00 to 8:00 pm at the Larkin Mortuary – Riverton, 3688 West 12600 South, Riverton, Utah. A viewing will also be held prior to the services beginning at 10:00 am. Interment will follow at the Larkin Sunset Gardens Cemetery in Sandy, Utah.

Funeral services will be streamed via Zoom for those wishing to attend virtually.