Marilyn Louise Weeks

Marilyn Louise (Ellis) Weeks, 88, of Columbia, Missouri, passed away peacefully on February 19, 2025, at 12:25 a.m. with her daughter Lori French by her side. Her son Rodney Weeks and wife Cathy were able to be there utilizing technology. She was born on April 8, 1936, in Ottumwa, Iowa to Carl and Elvera Ellis. Marilyn was known for her compassion for others and infectious laughter.

Marilyn met Raymond Weeks while attending Ottumwa High School. Soon after graduation they were married on June 13, 1954. They had three children, Debi, Rodney and Lori, who grew up surrounded by love, laughter and many gatherings with a large extended family, often playing cribbage, board games, music, and dancing.

Education was important to Marilyn and she pursued a career in nursing. She became an LPN in 1963 and worked in a hospital, a doctor’s office and nursing homes. Marilyn became an RN in 1991 at the age of 55. She loved working as a hospice nurse providing comfort care and compassion for her patients and their families. She received lovely angels from several families and grew quite the collection. When Marilyn retired from nursing she moved to Columbia, Missouri where she enjoyed golfing, sewing, gardening, playing cribbage, photography, walking her puppies and snuggling with her kitties. However, full retirement was not in the cards yet. She had been known as a "good stick” during her entire nursing career so she became a phlebotomist. After another 5 years of work she fully retired at the age of 75. Marilyn always inspired her family with love, devotion, kindness and compassion for ourselves and toward others.

Marilyn is survived by her brother Darrell (Carolyn) Ellis and sister Julie Ellis both of Agency, Iowa, sister-in-law Marcia Ellis of Ottawa, Illinois, son Rodney (Cathy) Weeks of Parker, Colorado, daughter Lori French of Columbia, Missouri, and son-in-law Gary Donegan of Tucson, Arizona; 7 grandchildren, BreAnn Hollinger, Kyle and Keith Donegan, Heidi (Larry) Barela, Cooper (Cortney) Weeks, Jason (Stephanie) Robertson, and Lynne Peterson; 8 great grandchildren, Dominick and Davis DiCantio, Kennedy and Pryor Weeks, Kyle and Sadie Robertson, Elijah and Olive Peterson.

Marilyn was preceded in death by her parents, former husband Raymond Rex Weeks, brother Dwayne Ellis, daughter Debi Rae Donegan and great granddaughter Acacia Henkle.

A celebration of Marilyn's life will be held with family and friends in Ottumwa, Iowa at a later date in the summer of 2025.

All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. God is our merciful Father and the source of all comfort. He comforts us in all our troubles so that we can comfort others. When they are troubled, we will be able to give.

2 Corinthians 1:3-4