Marilyn J. Cory

Marilyn Jane (McNaughton) Cory, age 92, of Greenville, formerly of Belding, went home to her Lord, and to be reunited with her dear, husband Don, on Wednesday, February 15, 2023. She was being cared for by her family and Interim Hospice, and the loving staff at Hathaway Hills Assisted Living Center. She was born in Grattan, Michigan, on March 2, 1930, the youngest daughter of Myron John and Genevieve Louva (Lessiter) McNaughton. She graduated from Belding High School with the Class of 1947 and worked at Gibson Refrigeration for several years prior to starting her family. In later years once her children were grown, she worked at Rayborn True Value Hardware, a job where she made many friends.

She married Donald R. Cory on January 15, 1949, at First Baptist Church in Belding and shared 73 years of marriage with him prior to his death in 2022. She was a loving, supportive wife, mother and homemaker for Don and their three children. Her mother died when she was young, so she and her sisters learned much of what they needed to know about being a mother, like sewing and other skills, from each other, but that did not keep her from accomplishing her primary mission in life, which was to be the best wife, mother, and grandmother that her family could have. She was not afraid of hard work as evidenced by, on at least one occasion, painting an entire house on her own for the family business, Don Cory, Builder, to make sure it was ready for the already-scheduled open house event. Marilyn also enjoyed her share of fun as well, with countless trips to East Lansing for tailgate events at MSU Spartan football games and preparing her famous hot beef sandwiches and Snickerdoodle cookies for the masses. As the grand kids came along, she and Don kicked into grandparent mode and made frequent trips to visit the grandchildren, attending sporting and other events and planning much anticipated vacations to Disney World and Lake Leelanau as often as they could. Through it all, she was a woman of faith, from her baptism with her dear friend, Deloris Leppink, at First Baptist Church to her more recent worship at Shiloh, Community Church; she kept God in her heart always.

In addition to her parents and husband, Marilyn was preceded in death by an infant daughter, her two sisters, Phyllis Warden and Barbara Bradford, and her stepmother, Margie Downer Phelps.

Marilyn leaves her dear children to cherish memories of her including, Steven Cory of Phoenix, AZ, Nancy (Steve) Cory-Saaf of Lake Leelanau, MI and Leanne (Mike) McEachran of Mesa, AZ, former daughter-in-law, Debbie Metz of Glendale, AZ; and her beloved grandchildren, Cory Saaf of Lisle, IL, Morgan (Brian) Saaf-White of Lisle, IL, Richie McEachran of Mesa, AZ, Taylor Saaf of Denver, CO, and Genevieve McEachran of Gilbert, AZ; one special great grandson, Benjamin White, and many loving nieces and nephews.

As she so often cared for her family and community, with quiet resolve and with expectation of little fanfare, she has also requested reserve with regard to her final arrangements. Marilyn’s family will observe a private Graveside Service and Life Celebration gathering during the upcoming summer months. Memorial contributions are recommended to the Don and Marilyn Cory Building Trades Scholarship Fund at Belding High School, c/o Michael Ostrander, Principal, 850 Hall Street, Belding MI 48809. Please contact Verdun Family Funeral Home and Cremation Services at (616) 794-1300 or www.verdunfh.com, for additional information.