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Marilyn Mae Morgan Hillery passed away on Thursday, Sept. 18, 2014.
She is survived by her husband of 64 years, Robert R. Hillery of Houston, Texas; her three children: daughter, Nancy Hillery McCarthy of Washington, D.C., son, Dr. Robert Morgan Hillery of Pecan Grove, Texas, and daughter, Kathryn Ann Hillery of Houston, Texas; and her nine grandchildren, Morgan Marie McCarthy, KevinLynn McCarthy Aurit, Adrienne Claire Hillery Gaziano, Rachel Nicole Hillery, Mary Elizabeth Hillery, Robert Earl Hillery, William Wescott Bell, Robert Tanner Bell and Morgan Hillery Jackson Bell; and her sister, Madelyn Marie Morgan Stephenson.
Marilyn was born June 10, 1928, in Kansas City, Kan., to Dorothea "Dorothy" Evelyn Skinner Morgan and Roy S. Morgan.
She graduated from Enid High School in 1946. She studied art at Phillips University in Enid prior to working as a commercial artist in Oklahoma City.
Marilyn and Robert married in June 1950, in Enid, Okla. In 1951, they moved to Fort Morgan, Colo., where Robert worked as a geoscientist with Shell Oil Co. Their daughter, Nancy was born in 1952, their son, Robert in 1954, and their daughter, Kathryn in 1960.
Over the course of their 64-year marriage, Marilyn and Robert moved 28 times. While raising the children and supporting her husband in his career, Marilyn also found time to be active in her church and community.
Marilyn and Robert were original members of Cypress Creek Christian Church and she went on to serve as chairman of the board. She was involved in the women�s ministry and the art ministry, participating in the planning and fabrication of the stained glass windows in both sanctuaries.
In her 70s, she played a pivotal role in the conception, development and ultimate realization of The Pearl Fincher Museum of Fine Arts, actually organizing the first planning meeting at Champions Golf Club. In July 2011, The Marilyn Morgan Hillery Community Artist's Wall, featuring work by local Houston artists, was dedicated in her honor at The Pearl.
Always an encouragement to her children and grandchildren in their educational pursuits, Marilyn returned to college in her 50s at the University of Houston to pursue a degree in fine arts. She graduated Cum Laude in 1987. She continued her artistic pursuits throughout her life, becoming a core founding member of the DaVinci Gallery Artists in Tomball, Texas. She was an active member of WASH, and Northwest Art League, participating in member shows and workshops. Marilyn was an inspiration to those around her, and she enjoyed encouraging new artists to pursue their talents.
Marilyn leaves a lasting legacy through her art and her family.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the ALS research of Dr. Stanley Appel at Houston Methodist Hospital through the dedicated You Caring site is: Hiking for Marilyn Hillery: Raising Money for ALS Research (https://www.youcaring.com/HikingforMarilynHillery) or to The Pearl Fincher Museum of Fine Arts at http://www.pearlmfa.org/.
(Submitted by family)
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