On Friday, January 8, 2021, Marilyn R. Harding passed away at age 86 in her home in Greeley, CO, surrounded by a gallery of her loved ones.
Marilyn's life teed off May 16, 1934, in Blakesburg, IA, where she was born to Edith and William Rokey, nowhere near a golf course. She married Edward R. "Ed" Harding in the autumn of 1955, and the kind and generous twosome were paired for 47 years before Ed preceded Marilyn to the eternal Nineteenth Hole in 2002. They raised four children who, along with their spouses, love her dearly: Anthony "Tony" R. Harding (Linda), Marta S. Nelson (Frank), Abby L. Hill (Jeff), and Stuart C. Harding (Jen). On her tour she counted her children, 12 grandchildren and 5 great-grandchildren among her greatest scores. Marilyn's surviving loving siblings are her sisters Betty Gillen, Donna Connor, Shirley Wagner, and her brother Wayne "Tony" Rokey. Marilyn tallied Ken Bell among her own family, and he is one of her loved ones.
Although an avid golfer, Marilyn always put her faith first, and one cannot love golf without faith. A beloved member of the Commission Church congregation, Marilyn's faith was quiet, patient, and unshakeable. Marilyn let her faith speak loudly in her life's actions and decisions, and she made her choices based on her convictions about Jesus. She loved others as He did, with a huge heart that was filled with love for God, for her church, and for her friends and family.
And with her lifelong love of music, Marilyn's spinning of song spread joy and happiness among her many friends and family. Her voice shall not fade.
In lieu of flowers, please consider a gift in Marilyn's honor to these causes she named in her final wishes:
Commission Church (
www.commissionchurch.org
): Click "Donate" on the website, or checks may be made out to Commission Church, 940 Emerald Dr., Windsor, CO 80550.
Hearts & Horses (
www.heartsandhorses.org
): Click "Giving" in the banner, or checks may be made out to Hearts and Horses, 163 North CR 29, Loveland, CO 80537.
Cure Alzheimer's Fund (
www.curealz.org
): Click "Donate" in the banner, or checks may be made out to Cure Alzheimer's Fund, 34 Washington Street, Suite 310, Wellesley Hills, MA 02481.
Marilyn dedicated Psalm 23 to memory deep in her heart, as her memory is buried deep in ours:
Psalm 23
The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.
He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters.
He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake.
Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.
Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over.
Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.