Marylyn Kay (Koger) Wilcox, born on September 30, 1942, in Maryville, Missouri, passed away on March 26, 2025. Marylyn was the first-born child of Beulah and Verlin Koger (both deceased) and wife of John H. Wilcox, Jr. (deceased) of Tarkio, Missouri.

Marylyn was raised on a farm in Northwest Missouri. She graduated from Northwest Missouri State University in 1963 with a degree in elementary education and married shortly thereafter. She was a devoted mother to three children prior to beginning her teaching career in 1976. She retired in 2000 after teaching 2nd grade for 24 years. She was very active in the communities where she resided throughout her life. She was a member of the Sigma Sigma Sigma Sorority while she attended university and joined Xi Eta Nu chapter of Beta Sigma Phi when the family moved to Tarkio in 1972. She was a member of United Methodist Women’s organization, taught Bible and Sunday school and served on Pastor-Parish Relations Committee. In 1994, she was presented with a Life Membership pin in the United Methodist Women’s Society.  In retirement, she was a “meals on wheels” volunteer and coordinator, served as secretary to Philanthropic Educational Organization (PEO) club and participated in many other civic and social clubs. She was an avid seamstress and enjoyed many creative hobbies in her spare time.

Marylyn’s passion was educating children, reading to them and teaching them to read. She was awarded the 2006 Citizen of the Year by the Tarkio Community Betterment organization for her volunteer work through her affiliation with the Mule Barn Theatre “Friends of the Library” committee to fund and build the Tarkio Resource Center. After the building was completed and the Resource Center was established, she served as a scheduling coordinator.

Marylyn was preceded in death by parents, Beulah and Verlin Koger; sister, Judy (Koger) Haynes; brother-in law, Lonnie R. Haynes; her husband, John H. Wilcox, Jr. and son, Jamie Wilcox; father-in-law, John Wilcox, Sr.; mother-in-law, Harriet (Lundgren) Wilcox; and cousin, Suzanne Sawyers. She is survived by daughters, Johnna Wilcox M.D. and Jerri Wilcox; granddaughter, Tessa Keeney; nephew, Kevin Haynes; niece, Heidi (Haynes) Peroni; Danny Peroni, Jake Peroni, and Greyson Peroni; cousin, Robert Sawyers; and many other cousins, nieces, and nephews.

A graveside memorial service and inurnment will be held at 11:00 a.m., Thursday, May 22, 2025, at Home Cemetery, Tarkio, conducted by Rev. Glenn Scott. The family will receive friends following the service at the Tarkio Resource Center. Memorials may be directed to Tarkio Resource Center. Arrangements are under the direction of Davis Funeral Home, Tarkio, Missouri. Online condolences may be made at www.minterfuneralchapels.com.