Marilyn Alice Grimm Peck (McNulty), 87, of Rochester, Washington, passed away peacefully on May 5, 2022, at Mother Joseph’s Care Center in Olympia, Washington.
Marilyn was born to Nathan and Florence Grimm at Rowley General Hospital in Mount Vernon, Washington on Nov. 12, 1934. She was the last grandchild of Harriet Wade Rowley born in the family hospital. Her early days were spent in Snohomish and Richmond Beach, Washington, where she attended Lincoln High School and was a varsity cheerleader. She told many stories of her teenage years spent at Richmond Beach swimming, having bonfires and spending time with close friends and family.
In 1951, Marilyn met and married Gerald Crossland, who together had three daughters, Loralyn, Dezanne and Cheryle. After his passing, she later remarried and then divorced Richard DeGeus, and together they had two children, Jewelie and Richard Jr. After her divorce, she reconnected with and married her high school sweetheart, Miles Peck of Mount Vernon, and before his death, they had two children, Shannon, and Miles Jr.
In 1972, Marilyn moved to Rochester, and began working at the Weyerhaeuser Regeneration Plant. In 1996, she retired after 23 years and continued working part-time in the cafeteria at Grand Mound Elementary School until she finally decided to retire completely and enjoy life.
Marilyn was a member of the Centralia Eagles. Some of her best memories that she loved to reminisce about was time spent traveling with her sister Margaret and brother-in-law Robert Brewer. They would drive to different states by car with Robert at the wheel. How he stayed so calm while the two of them constantly stomped their imaginary brake at everything that moved is beyond me. She enjoyed family gatherings, barbecues, going to the ocean and camping at Kalaloch, fishing with her dad as a child, shopping with her daughters, and spending long months in the summertime at Lake McMurray with her dear cousin, Ruth Robertson.
She is survived by her daughters Loralyn (Tom) Jones, Concrete, Washington, Dezanne Garcia, Austin, Texas, Cheryle Crossland, Rochester, Washington, Jewelie (Norm) Eberle and Richard (Tama) DeGeus Jr., both of Camano Island, Washington, and Shannon (Brian) Fitting of Rochester, Washington; brother-in-law Robert Brewer, Richmond Beach, Washington; 14 grandchildren Chara (Loralyn), Eloy and Sebastian (Dezanne), Jamie (Cheryle), Shane, Troy and Dustin (Jewelie) Jason, Aaron and Brielle (Richard Jr.), Shelby (Shannon), and Miles III, Myla and Ethan (Miles Jr.); 19 great-grandchildren, and numerous nieces, nephews and cousins.
She was preceded in death by her youngest son Miles Peck Jr. of Rochester, Washington; her parents Nathan and Florence Grimm of Mount Vernon, Washington; her sister Margaret Brewer of Lynnwood, Washington;, and her brother Robert Grimm of Edmonds, Washington.
A celebration of life will be held at 1:30 p.m. on Saturday, June 4, 2022, at Trinity Lutheran Church, 301 S. 18th St., Mount Vernon, Washington, 98274. In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to your local hospice, food bank or Providence Mother Joseph Care Center at 3333 Ensign Road, Olympia, Washington, 98506.
