Marilyn Morin

Marilyn Morin, 78, of Greensburg, passed away with her family by her side on Friday, June 19, 2020, due to Congestive Heart Failure caused by a 10 year battle of COPD. Marilyn was born November 6, 1941, in Casper, Wyoming to W. Scott and Violette “Bobbie” (Wilms) Gillespie and lived her life unselfishly until the end.

After her educational years, Marilyn lived in eight states and numerous cities from the West Coast to the Midwest, working with personnel in oil companies. In 1972, she moved to Madison, Indiana, and found her true passion in life. She became part of a small federal agency that sponsored the Peace Corps, VISTA, RSVP, and FGP. It was a perfect match for Marilyn as it combined her passion for community activism and working with seniors. While in Jefferson County, she helped write grants for the Senior Center, served on the Senior Housing Board, worked with area schools and Madison State Hospital, and worked with local organizations to help better the community. In 1989, she was asked by the federal agency to take an existing program in Jennings County and recreate it for a five – county area based in Bartholomew County. Soon after, she had the Foster Grandparent Program up and running in all five counties. Marilyn continued to grow the Foster Grandparent Program until her retirement in 2006.

Throughout her lifetime, Marilyn was a member of the Board of Public Works, AAUW, Kiwanis, President of the State RSVP Directors, Cub Scout Leader, PTO President in two schools, a 50 – year member of the Order of the Eastern Star, and a Job’s Daughters Queen. She served on multiple boards to help those who are homeless, assist with expanding local food pantries, and to help prevent child abuse in serval counties. She received numerous State and Federal awards for her work and her proposals made it through to two Senatorial Hearings. Marilyn also created a guidebook for new Directors of the Foster Grandparent Program, and some of her work is still in use today in national training. In 2017, Marilyn was awarded the Sagamore of the Wabash by the Governor of Indiana for her 40 years of community service to seniors and children.

Marilyn’s love of work was only second to her greatest love, her family. 46 years ago, Marilyn met the love of her life, Jim E. Morin, and they wed in 1977. She and Jim enjoyed several years of traveling from coast-to-coast after their retirement. They shared a deep love and friendship that never stopped growing over the years. While they spent most of their lives together raising their family in North Vernon, In, they had recently moved to Greensburg, In to be closer to some of their children and grandchildren.

Marilyn is survived by her beloved husband, Jim; her four children, David Scott (Beth) Melvin of Moyock, NC, Bobbi Gene (Thomas) Ebbing of Greensburg, IN, Jamie Lynn Davis of Greensburg, IN, and Darolyn Erica (Jim) Jones; six grandchildren, Bailey, Mackenzie, and Sebastian Ebbing, Will Jones, Kory and Rhyan Gamet; four great-grandchildren, Isaac, Jonah, and Lucas Gamet, and Harper Gamet. Seeing her children and grandchildren come through the door to visit, was her greatest joy.

Marilyn’s life was a living example of her favorite quote from Emerson, “Make yourself necessary to someone.” It was her greatest hope that she achieved this with her family and community service.

Please join marilyn’s family in celebrating her life at a visitation on Wednesday, June 24, 2020 from 4:00 – 8:00 p.m. at Sawyer-Pickett Funeral and Cremation Service located at 115 South State Street, North Vernon, In. During the visitation, the local chapter of the Order of the Eastern Star will be performing a special ceremony at 7:30 p.m. A funeral service will be conducted on Thursday, June 25, 2020 at 1:00 p.m. at Sawyer-Pickett Funeral and Cremation Service with the burial proceeding at the Vernon Cemetery. *For the health and safety of everyone, Marilyn’s family is requiring that all attendees wear masks to the visitation and/or funeral. Masks will be provided for those who do not have a mask available.

Memorials can be made through the funeral home to the Foster Grandparent Program.

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