Marilyn Jane Custer (June 12, 1933 – August 12, 2024)

Marilyn was born in Dallas Center, Iowa in 1933 to Harry Edwin and Hazel Evelyn Taylor. She was the only daughter of this Iowa farm family with four older brothers and one younger. Marilyn graduated from high school in Tucson, Arizona. She attended the University of Arizona, graduating in 1955 with a BS degree in Home Economics. After college, she taught Home Economics for one year in Casa Grande, Arizona and then was chosen as the state advisor for the Future Homemakers of America.

Marilyn met Warren in 1956 in Wilcox, Arizona at a funeral, and it was love at first sight. They met in person only three times but corresponded through numerous love letters. After a brief long-distance relationship between Oklahoma and Arizona, they were married on May 19, 1957, in Tucson, Arizona.

Warren and Marilyn began their married life in Shidler, Oklahoma in an upstairs apartment over a five car garage. Marilyn taught at Shidler High School for a short time before they moved to Dexter, Kanas where they raised their five children until 1972. While visiting Southeastern Oklahoma, their close friend Ray Tucker told them of a ranch for sale south of Hugo on the Red River. After ranching for nine years, they purchased another property north of Hugo and built the home where they lived. Warren and Marilyn have had a ranching operation their entire lives.

Ranch life and raising five children was a challenge she accepted with beauty and grace. Marilyn loved education and learning, challenging her children to broaden their minds and expand their knowledge. Setting an example, she attended classes at SOSU, as well as helping others by teaching GED classes. Her joy of reading was never ending, having an extensive and varied collection of books. She also loved writing, sometimes for therapy, sometimes for joy. Marilyn was an extremely talented pianist and organist, having played at her home church her entire life. Playing by ear came naturally, mastering any tune she could hear.

Marilyn’s love of education, reading and books was reflected in her dedication and time served on the Choctaw County Public Library Board, where she was instrumental in the building of the new library. She also had a love for the circus and spent many hours volunteering and serving on the board of directors. Other civic and community groups such as Rotary and Chamber of Commerce were near and dear to her heart.

She is survived by: two daughters - Jane (Todd) Tucker of Finley, Oklahoma and Gayle (Kent) Donica of Dickson, Oklahoma; three sons - Aaron (Debby) Custer of Dickson, Oklahoma, Clay (Maggie) Custer of Clearwater, Florida, and Joe (Becky) Custer of Kenefic, Oklahoma; 13 grandchildren, seven great-grandchildren, and a host of other relatives and cherished friends.

The pallbearers are sons: Aaron Custer, Clay Custer, Joe Custer; grandsons: Clark Tucker, Sterling Tucker, Samuel Donica, Jacob Custer, Luke Custer, Jack Custer and Jay Custer.

Honorary pallbearers: Todd Tucker, Kent Donica, Debby Custer, Maggie Custer, Becky Custer, Melissa Stewart, Madison Andrews, Savannah Ramirez, Katy Buckner, Clary Donica, Peggy Cravey and Gerardo Estrada.

Visitation will be at the Prater-Lampton-Mills & Coffey Funeral Service, Hugo, Oklahoma on Thursday, August 15, 2024 from 6:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. Services will be held at the First Christian Church, Hugo, Oklahoma at 10:00 a.m. on Friday, August 16, 2024.

Graveside services will be held at the Cedar Creek Cemetery, Cedar Vale, Kansas on Saturday, August 17, 2024 at 10:00 a.m.

Memorial gifts in lieu of flowers may be made to:

Choctaw County Public Library, 703 E Jackson Street, Hugo, Oklahoma 74743

Kelly Miller Brothers Circus, 2579 E 2070 Rd, Hugo, Oklahoma 74743