Marilyn Francis Willmon Reeves, of Denton, Texas, suddenly passed from this earth on December 13, 2024, due to heart complications.

Marilyn was born on August 10, 1944, in Spur, Texas to Pinckney Augustus and Bertha Ann Cooper Willmon. She attended Patton Springs High School in Afton, where she excelled in basketball and graduated as valedictorian of her class of 1962.

Marilyn attended South Plains College and West Texas State University, where she received her Bachelor of Arts degree in Elementary Education. While at West Texas State, Marilyn met her future husband, Glenn Ray Reeves, and they were married on September 5, 1964. After graduation, the couple moved to Fort Worth, where they welcomed sons Joel in 1969 and Jeff in 1971, before moving to Colorado. In 1974, the couple made the decision to move from Colorado to Denton, Texas, where son Eric was born in 1975.

In addition to raising three boys, Marilyn had a varied work career, which included teaching elementary school at Fort Worth Christian School just after graduating college; working as a teller at Denton Area Teachers Credit Union; working in Accounts Receivable at Moore Business Forms; and working as an Inventory Control Analyst for American Airlines at their maintenance base at Alliance Airport. She retired from American Airlines with 25 years of service in 2015.

Marilyn loved to travel, taking full advantage of American's employee flight benefits, by which she was able to visit many of our national parks and several foreign countries, as well as to achieve her goal of visiting all 50 states. She was dedicated to her family and tirelessly supported the special needs of her son Jeff, for whom she was a constant advocate, encourager, and guardian. She was also dedicated to the church throughout her life, including Singing Oaks Church of Christ, where she and Glenn were members since the late 1970s. She taught the class for 4-year-olds at Singing Oaks for a number of years, after which she then initiated and taught a class for adults with special needs for several more years. In retirement, she found enjoyment and fulfillment ministering with the Arms of Hope organization, as well as continuing her dedication to her son Jeff through her avid support of the Special Olympics.

Marilyn, or Mme as she was known by her grandchildren, was a very dedicated grandmother. She not only attended endless sporting events, school functions and birthday parties, but she took her grandchildren on adventures both local and out of town. She would thoughtfully send packages filled with goodies before each holiday such as Valentine's Day, Halloween and Easter. She loved them and expressed this affection often.

The family will receive friends on Wednesday, December 18 from 5 pm to 7 pm at DeBerry Funeral Directors. A memorial service honoring Marilyn's life will be held on Thursday, December 19 at 2 pm at Singing Oaks Church of Christ. She will be laid to rest next to Glenn at Roselawn Memorial Park.

Marilyn is survived by son Joel and his wife Connie Reeves of Richardson, Texas; son Jeff Reeves of Denton, Texas; son Eric Reeves of Rockwall, Texas; grandchildren Matthew and Alexandra Reeves; and brother Dean Willmon of Whitney, Texas.

She was preceded in death by her husband of 58 years, Glenn Reeves; triplet daughters who died in infancy; parents Pinckney Augustus and Bertha Ann Cooper Willmon; two brothers, Dr. J. C. Willmon and Dr. P. A. Willmon, Jr.; and two sisters, Mabel Hale and Bertha Gambrell.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be sent to one of the following organizations that were dear to Marilyn's heart:

Arms of Hope Ministries
www.armsofhope.org

Cooke County VIPS Special Olympics Texas
℅ Lois Essenburg
203 Daniel Court
Collinsville, TX 76233