Marilyn Martha Smalley

Marilyn Martha Smalley, 91, died November 29, 2024, at Holiday Resort, Emporia. She was born November 8, 1933, in Topeka, to Fern W. and Barbara (Watts) Franzen. Marilyn graduated from Topeka High School in 1948. She enjoyed collecting frog memorabilia, sewing, and attending Sunday night bingo at the VFW. She would take her grandchildren with her some nights and let them help her with the dauber on her cards. Marilyn was on a Tuesday night bowling league with her daughter and daughter-in-law, in the 90s.

Marilyn married Robert “Bob” D. Ewing and to that union two sons were born, Steven and Jerry. Marilyn and Bob later divorced.

On June 24, 1961, she married Curtis A. Smalley in Topeka and to that union a son and a daughter were born, Curtis Jr. and Barbara Jo. She also gained two bonus sons, Joe and Ricky. Marilyn and Curtis shared 31 years of marriage before he died on January 13, 1992.

Marilyn and Curtis moved to Emporia in 1961 and Marilyn worked at Fred’s Derby as a waitress. From 1984-1988, they owned and operated C&M Restaurant. Marilyn retired as a waitress from Regency Gardens.

Marilyn is survived by: children, Steve Ewing of Emporia, Jerry Ewing and wife Sharon K. of Marion, Curtis Smalley, Jr. and Genevieve of Denver, CO, Barbara Powell and husband Brad of Burlington, Joe Smalley and wife Colleen of Paxico, Ricky Smalley of Topeka; 18 grandchildren; 33 great grandchildren; and 3 great great-grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her parents; siblings, Gerold Franzen, Donald Franzen, Dean Franzen, Jackie Slocum; great grandson, Nathan Arnold Smalley; grandson, Nathan Smalley; and daughter-in-law, Sharon F. Ewing.

Funeral service will be 10:00 a.m. Saturday, December 7, 2024, at West Side Baptist Church, Emporia. Burial will follow in Greenwood Cemetery, Emporia. Family will greet friends before the service. Memorial donations may be made to Hand-in-Hand Hospice or West Side Baptist Church, in care of Brown-Bennett-Alexander Funeral Home PO Box 200 Cottonwood Falls, KS 66845.

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