Marilyn Ann Hunter Bailey, 92
NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — Marilyn Ann Hunter Bailey passed away peacefully on March 28, 2025 in the presence of family. Marilyn was born on December 9, 1932 in Athol, Mass to Merle William and Muriel Jillson Hunter and lived in the Athol area for 30 years. She met Robert Henry Bailey in Athol and they were married in 1954.
The family moved to North Adams, MA in 1961 and lived there until 1973, where Marilyn's husband Bob worked at Wall Streeter Shoes for many years. They later moved west to Wichita, Kansas, following work opportunities. Though she lived in Kansas for years, Marilyn always considered herself a proud Massachusetts Yankee.
Marilyn was an experienced seamstress and made dresses for her daughters and granddaughters as they were growing up, and she quilted with her mom, Muriel, who moved to Kansas with the family. Marilyn was a dog lover and once they moved to Kansas, there was usually a dog around.
After losing her husband to a stroke in 2003, Marilyn lived independently for a while before moving in with her daughter, Donna, in Newton, KS. Her final years involved challenges with health, vision, and hearing, and she is eternally grateful to the Library of Congress BARD program which allowed her to continue her lifelong passion for reading through books on tape.
She leaves behind her 3 children, Diane (Bob) Dillinger in Falcon, Colorado; Donna (Craig) Richardson in Newton, KS; and Kenneth (Julie Mundy) Bailey in Wichita; 5 granddaughters, 1 grandson, and 7 great grandchildren with one more on the way; and her dear friend for more than 60 years, Joan Morandi, who still lives in North Adams.
Life was good. Please don’t mourn her passing. She was ready. Instead, please celebrate the 92 wonderful years she had with family and friends who loved her and will miss her.