Marilyn J. Parcels, 91, of Cedar River, Mi., died on Thursday, February 8, 2024. She was born September 27, 1932; one of five daughters of the late Herbert and Myrtle Corey.

Marilyn graduated from Stephenson High School in 1950. She attended Albion College, was graduated cum laude in 1954, and was elected to Phi Beta Kappa national scholastic honorary. In 1954, she won the Mademoiselle magazine college fiction contest for her short story, The Pure of Heart.

She married Clayton Parcels in 1954. They moved to Chicago while he attended seminary in preparation for the Presbyterian ministry and she worked as an editor in the textbook division of Rand McNally. In 1962, the couple moved to Iron River, Michigan, where Marilyn taught English in the West Iron County public schools. She also worked as a free-lance writer, publishing fiction and non-fiction in teen magazines and writing many news items and portraits of Iron County residents for the Milwaukee Journal and Green Bay Press Gazette.

In 1994, the couple moved to their retirement home in Cedar River. Marilyn was a member of the First Presbyterian Church, Menominee, the West Shore Fishing Museum, and a book club. Throughout her life, Marilyn was an avid reader and an ace apple pie baker. She enjoyed travel in the US and Europe.

She is survived by her husband, Clayton, and three children Sue Parcels (Kim McLachlan) of Portland, Maine, Annie Parcels Kurek of Ingallston, Michigan, and Ross Parcels (Linda Murto) of L’anse. She is also survived by two grandchildren, Andrew Kurek and Corey Kurek, and two great-grandchildren, Bella and Harper Kurek.

Services will be held at the first Presbyterian Church in Menominee this summer.

Anderson-Diehm Funeral Home is assisting the family.

Online condolences may be expressed at www.andersondiehm.com

Marilyn’s family would like to give a heartfelt thank you to UP home hospice, Dr. Carlson and Renee Haberland for their great care they gave their mother. And Pastor Tim Gunderson, numerous family and friends for supporting us during this difficult time.

Memorials may be given in Marilyn’s name to local museums, Menominee County Public Library, or the First Presbyterian Church, Menominee. To be sure of a thank you from the family, please send in care of Anderson-Diehm Funeral Home at PO BOX 335 Stephenson, Mi. 49887