Marilyn Delores (Lake) Watkins, 83, died November 13, 2019. She was born September 24, 1936 in Oberlin, Kansas to George and Olive (Elliott) Lake. Marilyns parents were ministers in the Church of the Nazarene which allowed her to have friends all over Kansas, Oklahoma, Mississippi, New Mexico, Iowa, and Papua New Guinea. When Marilyn was fifteen, her family was called to the 1st Church of the Nazarene in Burlington, Ia. This was an important step in Marilyns journey since this is where she met the love of her life, Leland Dale Watkins. According to Marilyn, Leland was the most handsome man she had ever seen and he says that he fell in love with her within the first five seconds of knowing her. They dated from fifteen to nineteen and then married in 1956 after Marilyn finished her freshman year at Bethany Peniel College (now Southern Nazarene University). When Leland finished his undergraduate work at Iowa Wesleyan University, the gorgeous couple packed up their 3-year-old, (Lynette), and their newborn, (Luann), and headed for the Nazarene Theological Seminary in Kansas City. Leland has never been shy about saying that he could never have made it through seminary without Marilyns never ending, always willing support. Once they completed seminary, they were called to their first pastorate in Leavenworth, Ks. Marilyn always joked with her youngest daughter that she, (Laniece), was born in the Federal penitentiary. Leland and Marilyn learned a lot at that first pastorate mostly how to live on love and how to live frugally. After Leavenworth, they were called to Hays, Ks. Where Marilyn completed her bachelors degree while being a fulltime mom to three little girls and being the music minister at their church. To say that Marilyn was a hard worker is an understatement. She could do anything and do it better than anyone else. After Hays, Ks. The family moved to Garden City, Ks. Where, coincidentally, she had lived as a child when her own dad had been a pastor. Marilyn taught music at a local high school outside of Garden City. But, her true passion was always the Lord and the Nazarene church. Soon, she decided to do music for the church full time. After Garden City, the family moved to Shawnee, OK where Marilyn directed the most beautiful Christmas Cantatas and where she really blossomed musically. She was a beautiful singer and pianist. But, she was unbelievably talented on the organ. It was such a treat to get to hear her offertories. After Leland took an early retirement for health reasons, Marilyn did what she always didshe took the life that was presented to her and made it amazing. She went to work for Edward Jones Investments where she was such an exemplary employee that she was placed on the Presidents Corporate Retirement Planning Committee for seven years. Marilyn was instrumental in changing benefits that affected every Edward Jones employee for the better. She retired as Branch Office Administrator for Edward Jones. But, she never actually "quit" working. She loved her Edward Jones people and they loved her. She was a current member of the Church of the Nazarene. Survivors include her husband, Leland; daughters, Lynette Leonard, Luann Schmiedel, and Laniece Watkins; brother, Jerrold Lake; sisters, Alice Wycoff and Joyce Burch; and 5 grandchildren, Jeff Hands, Jaena Poppe, Sylas Schmiedel, Isaac Schmiedel, and Madelyn Watkins. Marilyn loved spending time with her grandchildren. She was a great mom and a loving grandmother. Marilyn adamantly did not want a funeral service. She wanted everyone to remember her when she was happy and healthy. We will miss her until we get to see her again in heaven. No services are planned at this time. No Services