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Becky Ketchum wrote:
Marilynn died in a tragic auto accident in Melbourne, Florida on April 20, 2024. Her car was struck as she was driving out of a parking lot following a meeting of the League of Women Voters of the Space Coast, one of a number of community organizations that she was deeply involved with.
Obituary published by Brownlie-Maxwell Funeral Home in Melbourne:
Marilynn (KECK) Collins passed away on April 20, 2024 in Melbourne, Florida at the age of 77.
She is lovingly remembered by her husband Craig L. Collins, her devoted children Keith Collins, Meredith Palmer and Lauren Platt, her sons-in-law Timothy Palmer and Joshua Platt, and grandchildren Jordan, Mackenzie, Colin, Davis and Brooks, her brother , Herbert Keck Jr. and nephews David, Paul, Jon, Eric, and Drew and niece Kiersten.
Marilynn was preceded in death by her parents Hebert and Alice Keck, her sister-in-law Robin Keck, parents-in-law Edward and Elloise Collins and sister-in-law Sandra Littleton.
Born Marilynn Alice Keck on August 7, 1946 in Mount Vernon, NY , she grew up in Pleasantville, NY. She was a graduate of Pleasantville High School and the University of Massachusetts at Amherst where she received a degree in psychology in 1968.
Following graduation , Marilynn met Craig during an extended trip to Hawaii and they married in 1969. They moved to Satellite Beach in 1972, where they raised their family.
Marilynn was an active member in the Space Coast community. She was a founding member of the Brevard Zoo following many years of volunteering with the East Coast Zoological Society (ECZS) to help create a world class community-built zoo. She handled publicity for the organization, which led to her becoming the new zoo's marketing director after it opened in 1994. Marilynn was also known for her work with the League of Women Voters of the Space Coast, where she served as a board member and was a past president. She also volunteered with Rolling Readers, and served as an area director for the South Patrick Residents Association.
Marilynn enjoyed spending time with her family and loved being a grandmother. She was a lifelong fan of nature and travelled to many places across the country and around the world with her family and friends.
In lieu of flowers donations may be made to the Brevard Zoo, the ECZS Aquarium Project, the League of Women Voters or Rolling Readers.
A Celebration of Life event honoring Marilynn's memory will be announced at a future date.
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Becky Ketchum
This photo of Marilyn was taken at our 50th Reunion in June, 2014.
Janet Lohman
Marilyn was always kind and inclusive to me whether being new to Roselle Avenue school or alone at the Boulder reunion. And she had the best hair always!My condolences to her family and friends. Gone tragically way too soon.
Marilynn Zipes (Wallace)
The first 5 years of my education - Kindergarten through the 4th grade - were with Marilynn at Roselle. We shared the same name - even the same spelling, with the double n at the end! And we shared having a sibling 10 years older than we were because her brother, Herbie, was in the same class as my sister, Jacki! I always joke about the three Marilynns (one was Marilyn) in our class - Duble, Keck and me. Duble went to being called Lynn, I went to being called Mari - but Marilynn had the distinction of retaining her actual name, in its entirety.
Having moved to England in 1974, I only saw Marlynn at the PHS reunions and really didn't know what she'd accomplished in the intervening years until I read the obituary that Becky put on this site. Although it's so tragic that her life was cut short in such a dreadful way, she certainly packed a lot in and did so many positive things for her community - so impressive! Certainly a life well spent - also, obviously, with a large and loving family. She will be remembered by many, many people....