Marlyn L Culton, 86, of Springfield Missouri passed away December 21, 2018. She was born on June 20, 1932 to Lloyd and Martha Bach in Roselle IL.

Marlyn (Lynn) grew up on a family farm in, what was then, rural Northeast Illinois. She would often regale her children and grandchildren of the rich values she acquired while watching her parents and older siblings implement the daily activities of the farm. Work ethic, family team work, tolerance, resilience, and love were among the attributes she gained from her childhood experiences.

Marlyn married the love of her life, Richard (Dick) W Culton on February 17, 1951. She began her married life in the West suburbs of Chicago. During this time, she bore six children, held a variety of jobs to augment the family income, and fulfilled the role of mother with dignity, skill, love, and laughter. She loved being a mother. In 1968 Marlyn and Dick moved the family to Springfield MO, where they became members of St Paul United Methodist Church. In addition to her role as loving mother, Lynn worked in office staff roles at Glendale High School for 21 years. She often would serve as a brief, but important, ear to high school students seeking guidance from administrative staff.

Marlyn enjoyed a myriad of experiences while attending St Paul United Methodist Church. As a woman of deep faith, she attended weekly services to receive God's Word. In addition to weekly devotion, she fully immersed herself and her family in an environment of faith, Christian fellowship, and celebration for Christ's teachings. Among the many groups of the church community which Lynn participated in, her two favorites were, The United Methodist Women and Lovely Lane Circle. Lynn and Dick furthered their service by volunteering for mission work in Central America and Mexico Those rich experiences, as described by Lynn, accentuated her love of Christ, church, family, and giving to others. In addition to volunteering in her church community and outreach services, Marlyn volunteered for 25 years as an usher during events at the Hammond Center.

An important family activity was travel. Marlyn and Dick traveled to all 50 states, often camping along the way. In addition to these family vacations, which were frequently to National parks, she cherished her time in continuing travel with her grandchildren. Marlyn, by nature, was deeply inquisitive in "what was around the next bend" and saw travel as a way to enhance her life and those she held dear.

Mom, among her family and friends, was known to be voracious game player. She loved board games and cards, seeing those opportunities as a way to laugh, bond, tease, and be with those she loved.

Marlyn cites her children, grandchildren, extended family, friends, and church as her deepest values. Her zest for life, optimistic nature, love of adventure, and capacity for love were absorbed by those who knew her throughout her eventful life.

Marlyn is survived by son Kenneth and wife Susan, children Tess and Claire, daughter Julie Davidson and husband Bill, children Bryan (Ashley) and Jason (Samantha), Daughter Janet Cafer and husband Jim, her children Christine (Shannon) Cawthra and Jay Looney. She is also survived by great grandchildren Brooklyn, Lincoln, and Jaxson Cawthra, and Felicity Davidson. She has many nieces and nephews with whom she had deep and abiding relationships with, as well as many friends, surviving her. Her sister-in-law, Joyce Kolze and Brother-in Law, John Culton, as well as cousins Alice Beine and John Gathman survive her.

She was preceded in death by her husband Dick, son Richard, infant daughters Carol and Lillie, brother Donald, brother Harold, sister Dorothy, and her parents.

The family would like to thank Oxford Health Hospice team, the caring and skilled staff at Quail Creek Nursing Home, and those who provided compassionate and ongoing care on her behalf.

Her wake will begin at 1:00pm, Saturday December 29, 2018 at The Downtown Church (formerly St. Paul United Methodist Church), on Walnut Street in Springfield, MO. Funeral services will follow at 3:00pm. A private family burial will be held at Hazelwood Cemetery, Monday December 31, 2018.

Suggested Memorials may be made to the Seeing Eye Dog Foundation of Missouri, The Downtown Church, or the Council of Churches.