Marilyn and her husband Deacon Steve Lemons have been parishioners since 1985. She grew up in Trenton, Illinois; she was the oldest of 9 children and a cradle Catholic.
Marilyn and Steve met her senior year of high school and were married in 1979. Together they raised two daughters: Emily and Elizabeth. Emily, her husband Nick and their four children live in St. Louis, and Elizabeth (Beth) and her fiancé Michael live in Four Seasons, MO with their two dogs.
After receiving her cosmetology license, Marilyn worked in that profession for eight years before moving to Lenexa. She then worked for 35 years at Farmer's Insurance in various capacities, and also earned a bachelor’s degree in Management & Human Resources from Mid-America Nazarene University in 2009. Marilyn retired from Farmers in July of 2020.
Marilyn and Steve coordinate the Marriage Ministry at Holy Trinity Parish. They volunteer together at Catholic Charities through with its food distribution program. Marilyn also participates as an Extraordinary Eucharist Minister, and is active in Eucharistic Adoration, the Daughters of Isabella, and Senior Luncheons. Marilyn and Steve also are members of the Archdiocesan Deaconate Formation Team and are mentors to Cohort 4 as the men go through five years of deacon formation.
Marilyn loves being a part of Holy Trinity Parish – this is her home. A very wise woman told them as they were leaving Illinois to move to Kansas and “stay active in your church and you will always have friends.” As Marilyn was “rolling her eyes” she hugged this wise woman goodbye who just happened to be her mother-in-law. This statement became Marilyn’s favorite mantra over the years as proved to be so true: most of their friends are parishioners they have met over the years.
Marilyn and Steve look forward to assisting as you prepare for your Sacrament of Marriage.