September 23, 1940 - January 22, 2021
Marilyn Edith Catherine Oliver, 80, passed away peacefully on Friday January 22, 2021 in the Nelson Hospital after a long, courageous battle with a chronic illness.
Marilyn was born on September 23, 1940 in Nakusp, British Columbia to Charles and Catherine Horrey. The Horrey's owned the Nakusp Hardware Store and were very involved in the community. Growing up, she took square dancing and piano lessons, was a baton twirler, and Girl Guides member.
In order to graduate high school in 1957, Marilyn went to live with her Uncle Jim and Aunt Connie (Mauchline) in Rossland, BC; completing her education was very important to her. She took a secretarial course at the Trail Business School and in 1958 got her first job at West Kootenay Power in South Slocan. It was while working at WKP that she met her soulmate and the love of her life, Robert (Bob) Edward Gordon Oliver. Marilyn and Bob married on December 12, 1959, and settled down in South Slocan where they started their family.
While the children were growing up, she worked part time at the South Slocan Post Office. Once her five children were in school, she started work as a secretary with the Nelson School District, first at Crescent Valley Elementary School and then Brent Kennedy Elementary School. She took tremendous pride in her work as the secretary and was highly regarded by students, staff, and families alike.
Other than being a loving wife, mother, grandmother, great grandmother, and friend, Marilyn enjoyed knitting, crocheting, sewing, crossword puzzles, a good book, and lunching out. Her flower gardens & pots were her pride and joy and they were enjoyed by everyone in South Slocan. She had a dry sense of humour and every time the family drove by Blaylock Mansion on the North Shore, she'd tell her five children that was where she grew up; she loved to keep her children guessing.
In recent years, Marilyn thoroughly enjoyed her time walking with other seniors in Cathy Potkin's walking group at the Nelson and District Community Complex where many friendships blossomed. Everyone had nothing but kind words to say about her and her ability to encourage others even when she may have been struggling herself.
Marilyn is survived by her loving husband of 61 years, Robert Oliver, and her five children: Warren Oliver, Catherine (Dan) Crowther, Sharon (Andrew) Pearman, Gordon (Colette) Oliver, Tamara (Shane) Martin. She is also survived by her five grandchildren, five great grandchildren.
A memorial service for Marilyn will be postponed until a later date when Covid restrictions ease up. The family would like to thank the Thompson Funeral Home for their compassion and support during this difficult time.
Anyone wishing to make a donation in Marilyn's memory, may do so to the Kootenay Lake Hospital.