As received from the O’Neill-Dennis Funeral Home. If you have questions about, or potential corrections to the content, please contact the funeral home directly.
Marilyn Olive Murley (Dixon) of Houghton, Michigan passed away on July 31, 2026
Born on May 10th 1928 in Huntington Woods, Michigan, she was the daughter of Milton Amos Dixon and Vera Berridge Dixon (Smith), both deceased.
She met John (Jack) Hamel Murley at the Dixon Dairy Bar in Forester when he returned from the War in 1945. Marilyn served him Vera’s bean soup and hamburgers. Milton told him he didn’t have to buy something every time he came in but Jack was hungry and he was in love. They were married for 39 years. Jack died in 1988. Their marriage was made in heaven and he lived on in her heart.
Marilyn graduated from Royal Oak High School in 1946. She attended the University of Michigan where she graduated in 1949 with a nursing degree. Her degree schedule was accelerated; at the start of her class there were 77 students, she was one of 30 to graduate.
As a registered nurse she worked at Wake Pediatric Clinic in Royal Oak for 26 years and another 2 years at a clinic in Birmingham before retiring from nursing. Marilyn moved to Southfield and lived in the Country Corners Apartments where she worked in the office until 2012, finally retiring at the age of 74.
She lived in Eaton Rapids for 5 years before moving to Houghton in 2017. She lived at the Bluffs and made many new friends among staff and residents. Marilyn loved her time at the Bluffs.
Marilyn is survived by two children, son Richard Milton Murley his wife Patricia Ann Murley and daughter Gayl Suzane Venman. She has 4 grandchildren: Teal, Kit, Abigayl, and Scott; and 5 great grandchildren: Henry, Benjamin, Azalea, Wilson, and Suzy. Marilyn loved watching them grow and mature with her only regret being Jack wasn’t there to share the experience.
Marilyn loved to travel. When she was 22 years old she toured the United Kingdom and Europe for 3 months with her grandmother acting as chauffeur and guide. This trip was only 1 month after her engagement to Jack. “I put his picture on my night stand every night.”
She went on numerous family camping trips to Maine, Wyoming, and the Upper Peninsula. One thing she crossed off her bucket list while in Maine was cooking a live lobster; that is another story. She also had adventures with life long friends visiting Alaska and Prince Edward Island. A favorite destination was Traverse City.
Marilyn loved baseball and especially the Detroit Tigers. She was lucky enough to witness them winning a few World Series. Another wish was to visit the Baseball Hall of Fame; she got to cross that off too.
Marilyn volunteered whenever she could. One of her favorite charities was the food pantry at her church. She made gallons of soup every week; before long she was known as the “Soup Lady.” She loved cooking for her extended family, never missing an opportunity to serve one of her specialties at a reunion, Thanksgiving dinner, birthday, or wedding.
As matriarch of the family and the “Last Aunt”, she will be missed.
The O’Neill-Dennis Funeral Home of Hancock is assisting with the arrangements. To leave online condolences, please go to www.oneilldennisfh.com.
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