Marilyn Jean Fawcett Olson

Marilyn Jean Fawcett Olson, 88 of Sherman, TX formerly of Hot Springs Village, AR went to her heavenly home on Saturday, October 17, 2020 after a long battle with Alzheimer's disease.

Marilyn was born in DeKalb, Illinois on October 25, 1931. She was the second of three daughters born to Victor and Evelyn (Boyes) Fawcett. Her sisters, Elaine and Gayle were her lifetime best friends. Though many miles and states separated them in their adult years, they spoke often and traveled together on many occasions.

Marilyn attended grade school, high school and college in DeKalb, Illinois.  She graduated from Northern Illinois University in 1953 with a degree in secondary education. She married her husband, Donald Olson the same weekend that she graduated from college, on June 6, 1953. They soon began their family and over the course of the next 9 years they had six children; Sandra, Roger, Sharon, Richard, Douglas and Christopher. They moved to St. Charles, Illinois in 1966 and lived there until they retired to Hot Spring Village, Arkansas in September, 1999.

Marilyn was passionate about everything she did in life, beginning with her teaching career.  She taught high school for two years in Maple Park, Illinois before beginning her family.  When she returned to teaching she taught at Foxhill School in Batavia, Illinois for three years while she earned her master's degree in special education.  She taught and touched countless young lives as she used that degree and her God given talents to teach children with special needs for the next 20 years in Winfield, IL.  When she was not teaching, Marilyn was volunteering in many organizations and serving on committees too numerous to count. She was a girl scout leader as a young woman, and she served as a scout leader for all of her children when they were scouts. She was most passionate about her God and her faith. She served as a deaconess, was superintendent of the Sunday school ministry, taught Sunday school, served on church councils, sang in the choir, led bible studies and served as a Stephen Minister in her retirement years.  She was a CASA volunteer and aided many young people involved in the court system.

In her down time, Marilyn's passion was for knitting and quilting.  She made countless sweaters, scarves, hats, mittens and socks for her loved ones and baby blankets and sweaters that she donated to charity organizations.  She was a seamstress her entire life but was introduced to quilting in her retirement years. She created beautiful quilts for family, friends and of course, charity organizations. Marilyn also loved the outdoors.  She took classes to learn about the planets and constellations, birds and plants and just about anything to do with nature. When she retired from teaching she became a Master Gardener, volunteered at the Garven Woodland Gardens in Hot Springs, and continued to teach as she shared her knowledge with the elementary students in her community. She and her husband Don enjoyed living on a lake and near seven golf courses during their years in Arkansas. They spent many, many hours on the golf course and fishing on Lake Balboa. Her favorite thing to do was to spend time with her family and grandchildren at family reunions at the lake. She loved teaching the grandkids to play games of any kind, but they usually involved cards.

Marilyn was preceded in death by her parents, Victor and Evelyn Fawcett, her sisters, Elaine Grandy and Gayle Vogan, her husband, Donald Olson and her son, Roger Olson.  Surviving Marilyn are her children, Sandy (Kevin) Sunday, Sharon (Mike) Krenek, Richard Olson, Douglas (Kim) Olson and Christopher Olson.  Also surviving her are her eleven grandchildren, eight great grandchildren, cousins, nieces, and nephews.

Marilyn's family would like to sincerely thank all of the wonderful associates of Brookdale/The Willows in Sherman, TX and the nurses and caregivers from Heart to Heart Hospice for their compassion, friendship and skilled assistance, in making Marilyn's final days comfortable and peaceful.

A memorial service will be held on October 31, 2020 at 10:30 am at Trinity Lutheran Church, 1515 N. Travis St. in Sherman, TX. In lieu of flowers donations may be made to the Alzheimer's Association. Condolences may be emailed to:  mfolson1031@gmail.com