Marilyn Lucille Moyer Petry, 89, of Centralia, Kansas, died on Tuesday, December 26, 2023, at the Nemaha Valley Community Hospital in Seneca, Kansas.

Marilyn was born on September 26, 1934, at a midwife- home in Corning, Kansas to Clyde and Matilda (Thompson) Moyer. In 1936, during the Depression, her family moved to Corvallis, Oregon in search of work. In the early 1940-, they moved back to the Centralia area to manage the Moyer family homestead.

Marilyn attended the Centralia schools. In grade school, Marilyn played organized basketball where each team had three players on each end of the court. This led to her life-long love of sports. While in high school, Marilyn was a marching band majorette, twirler, cheerleader, and was elected homecoming queen. She also enjoyed participating in school plays and choir. Marilyn graduated from Centralia High School in 1952.

Marilyn dated Raymond Lee Petry during her senior year of high school. Following graduation practice, Raymond proposed marriage. Marilyn was surprised because she had planned to attend business college in Topeka, Kansas. Raymond told her if she went there, she would never come back. Of course, she accepted his proposal, and they were married on July 20, 1952.

Following their wedding, Marilyn and Raymond started their family farming business in the Centralia, Sabetha, Wetmore, and Goff communities. In addition to being a homemaker, Marilyn loved to sew, cook, snow ski, water ski, dance, bowl, golf, roller skate, and play softball. She was a Girl Scout leader, a Cub Scout leader, and she was involved in community plays, the Red Hat Society, and the Centralia United Methodist Church activities. In recent years, she enjoyed going to coffee with friends and playing cards at the Centralia City Library. This past July, Marilyn was honored as the Grand Marshal for the annual 4th of July Parade in Centralia.

Marilyn loved to travel with Raymond in their RV throughout the United States, Canada, and Mexico. She particularly loved visiting the Southwest where Raymond and she enjoyed playing golf together. When not traveling, she enjoyed watching their grandchildren compete in various team sports and their many other activities.

Marilyn was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Raymond; her sister, Gladys Ward; and her brother, Martin Moyer.

Survivors include her son, Gary Petry, MD of Centralia; her two daughters, Brenda (Blake) DeBord of Manhattan, Kansas and Amy (John) Norton of Salina, Kansas; her six grandsons, Austin (Michelle) Petry of Centralia, Justin (Rebecca) Petry of Centralia, Garek Petry of Lincoln, Nebraska, Blair (Ellen) DeBord of Columbia, Missouri, Brooks DeBord of Mission, Kansas, Parker Norton of Merriam, Kansas; her only granddaughter, Zoe Norton of Salina, Kansas; and her seven great-grandchildren, Hailey, Brielle, and Danica Petry, Grayson and Grant Petry, and Evie and Ruthie DeBord.

Marilyn will lie in state at the Popkess Memorial Chapel in Seneca on Tuesday, January 2, 2024, from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. for the public to pay their respects.

A Celebration of Life Service will be held on Wednesday, January 3, 2024, at 11:00 a.m. at the Centralia United Methodist Church (Centralia Community Church-West). Prior to the service, a visitation will be held from 9:30 a.m. until 11:00 a.m. at the church. Interment will be in the Centralia Cemetery following the service. In lieu of flowers, the family request that you please consider a donation to the Centralia High School - Raymond and Marilyn Petry Memorial Fund, sent in care of Popkess Memorial Chapel, 814 Castle Street, Seneca, Kansas 66538. Online condolences may be left for the family at popkessmortuaries.com.