Marilyn Thomas Rickard

Marilyn Thomas Rickard was born in Clinton, Iowa on December 14, 1927 to Bert L. Thomas and Lillian (Boden) Thomas. She passed away in Carrollton, Texas on October 26, 2018.

Marilyn grew up in Clinton, Iowa along with her sister Phyllis and younger siblings Robert, Russell, and Susan. After graduating from Clinton High School in 1945, Marilyn and Phyllis attended Anderson College for one year. During that time, Bert and Lillian moved to Rolfe, Iowa, where they opened a cleaning and shoe-repair shop. Later in 1946, Marilyn and Phyllis joined the family in Rolfe and worked in the cleaning shop. Marilyn met Everett (Brownie) Rickard, and they were married in May 1948. She raised three children, stepson Jerry and daughters Alice and Ruth. Also, her nephew John Morgan (Jr.) became another "son" when Phyllis and family moved away, and John joined the Rickard household, so he could finish high school in Rolfe.

Marilyn and Brownie were long-time members of the Presbyterian Church. She served as an elder and as Clerk of Session. She taught many Sunday school classes and was later Sunday School Superintendent. Over the years, she made and served a lot of cookies to Sunday school kids, potluck dishes on Thursday nights, and chicken-and-biscuits for church dinners.

Marilyn began working in the family business, the Rickard Hardware store, in the 1960s. She was active in many community activities, from the Ladies VFW Auxiliary, to leading Brownies, to helping organize the Rolfe Centennial, to making maidrites for Band Boosters. She was honored to be Parade Marshall for Greater Rolfe Days in 2002. In the 1950s and 60s, she and Brownie were involved in a card club with local couples, which fostered enduring relationships through the years. She also enjoyed sewing, needlework, reading, and collecting dolls.

In 2002, Marilyn moved to a retirement community in Denton, Texas. She served on the Activities Committee and regularly participated in social activities, including dominoes, exercising, birthday parties, and more than a few Halloween costume parties. She formed many warm friendships there.

Survivors include stepson Jerry (Sharon) Rickard of Windermere, Florida; daughters Alice (William) Gough and Ruth Rickard, both of The Colony, Texas; grandsons Marcus (Tiffany) Gough, Jeff (Heather) Rickard, James (Joyce) Rickard, Justin (Erin) Rickard, and Jason (Shannon) Rickard; and great-grandchildren Jensen and Austin Gough, Jordan and Justin Rickard, Jr. and Jacob and Elise Rickard, along with numerous step-grandchildren and step-greatgrandchildren. She is also survived by her sister Phyllis Walker of Tucson, Arizona and brother Robert Thomas of Las Vegas, Nevada and Duck Creek, Utah. She was preceded in death by her sister Susan Thomas, parents Bert and Lillian Thomas, nephew Larry Morgan, husband Brownie in 1991, and brother Russell Thomas.

If desired memorial gifts may be made in Marilyn’s name to the Tilley Cabin Fund, c/o Ruth Rickard, 5156 S Colony Blvd., The Colony, Texas, 75056. The Tilley Cabin was built in the Rolfe Area ca. 1860. In 1967 husband Brownie Rickard helped lead the process of relocating the cabin and restoring it in Streit Park, Rolfe, Iowa. After that, Brownie provided educational talks in the cabin to many groups of elementary students.