Marilene Virginia (Shockley) Hoyt (1923-2019)

HOYT, SHOCKLEY, SMITH, ZIEGLER, KECK, LAWRENCE, PALENSKE

Posted By: Mark Christian
Date: 5/17/2021 at 16:53:11

Obituary from Woodland Hills Funeral Home, Mankato, Minnesota.

Marilene Virginia Hoyt, age 96, went peacefully to be with the Lord on Saturday, September 21, 2019, at Laurels Peak in Mankato, MN. A celebration of her life will be held Friday, October 4 at 4:00 p.m. at Woodland Hills Funeral Home, 1605 Woodland Avenue in Mankato, Minnesota. Visitation will begin at 2:00 p.m. A meal will follow immediately after the service.

Born September 1, 1923 in Ames, IA, Marnie was the youngest child of Fred and Geneva (Smith) Shockley. She graduated from Ames High School in 1941 and worked as a Bell Telephone operator. She met her future husband, Richard (“Dick”) Hoyt of Clarion, IA, riding a train together as teenagers to an honorary event for newspaper carriers. Five years later, when she was 19 and Dick 22, they were married in a chapel at Fort Ord, CA, where Dick was serving in the U.S. Army. They made their first home in Carmel near Fort Ord.

After Dick’s release from active duty in December 1945, they moved to Clarion, IA and Marnie applied herself to child-raising and homemaking while Dick began a career in the commercial printing industry. They were blessed with five children: Sandra, Stephen, Brian, Dennis, and Michael.

The family moved to Mankato in 1953 when Dick was hired by the Mankato Free Press. Marnie and Dick remained there the rest of their lives. Marnie worked for Madsen’s grocery store and later for the Sears store as personnel manager in the human resources department. She retired in 1985 at age 62. Marnie and Dick were members of the Mankato Rose Society, Minnesota Rose Society, and American Rose Society and enjoyed showing roses together at shows in Minnesota and elsewhere. They were snowbirds with a second home in Brownsville, TX, where they maintained their passion for golf year-round. Marnie and Dick were married for 63 years until Dick passed away in 2006. Marnie was pleased to live most of her remaining years at Primrose Assisted Living in Mankato.

Marnie was a quiet person, friendly but reserved. We will remember her strong sense of personal responsibility and her patience, tenacity and resilience through many losses and hardships. We will miss seeing her grow ever sweeter and kinder with age. Marnie’s favorite activities included time with family and bowling, golfing, and playing cards with friends. She enjoyed novels, game shows, crossword and jigsaw puzzles, and knitting. She was a member of the Centenary United Methodist Church.

Left to cherish her memories are her sons Steve of Newport Beach, CA, Brian (Suzette) of Overland Park, KS, and Denny (Debora) of Ames, IA. Also daughter-in-law Patsy Hoyt of Farmington and son-in-law Michael Smith of Milaca, MN. She had eight grandchildren: Heather (Tony) Ziegler, Sarah (Tom) Keck, Josh (Christie) Hoyt; Benjamin (Jen) Hoyt; Beth Lawrence; Jenna Palenske; Adam (Jenny) Hoyt; and Christopher and Jared Hoyt. She also had 14 great-grandchildren and 8 great-great-grandchildren.

Marnie was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, a brother William Shockley, daughter Sandra Smith, son Michael, grandson Christopher, great-granddaughter Izabella, and great-great grandson Colttin.

The family wishes to warmly thank the many wonderful caregivers at Primrose Assisted Living, Laurels Peak Nursing Home, and Mayo Clinic Hospice.