Marilyn Norris

NORRIS, Marilyn MacLardie (Murt) of Kettering, OH, age 94, passed away on July 22, 2024. 

Marilyn was preceded in death by her husband of 55 years, Leland V. Norris, Jr (Junior) in 2006, and her son, Craig Norris, in April 2024. She is survived by daughters Linda (Stuart) Petersen of Kettering and Patty (Bob) Baird of Bellbrook; son John “JD” Norris of Dayton; daughter-in-law Deb Norris; granddaughter Lisa (Andy) Snyder and grandsons Joe and John Norris; great-grandsons Evan Snyder and Joe Norris. 

Marilyn was a proud member of the Fairmont High School Dragons class of 1948, where she was a top point earner in the Girls Athletic Association (GAA), excelling at tennis, field hockey and basketball. She would later be inducted into the inaugural class of the Fairmont Athletic Hall of Fame. Marilyn attended Wittenberg University for one year, playing on both the tennis and field hockey teams and pledging Alpha Xi Delta Sorority, before returning home to marry her high school sweetheart, Junior, and start their family. 

Marilyn inherited a love of dogs from her mother, Mabel, and she instilled that same love in all of her children and grandchildren. Marilyn was a member of the Lutheran Church of Our Savior. She was an avid gardener and took great pleasure in her many varieties of daylilies. Marilyn was active member and volunteer in the South Dayton Democratic Club. She was a past president of the Dayton Alumnae Chapter of Alpha Xi Delta, and was recently recognized with the Order of the Diamond marking 75 years of sorority membership. She was a Girl Scout troop leader for both Linda and Patty. Marilyn continued her tennis career at Oak Creek Swim Club and with the Quail Run and Kettering Tennis Center teams, as well as playing in the Senior Olympics multiple times. She was also inducted into the Senior Olympics Hall of Fame. Marilyn retired from the Kettering Clerk of Courts Office. She forged special bonds with her colleagues and co-workers, and for many years continued to get together for monthly luncheons.

Marilyn was a devoted sports fan. She enthusiastically followed the Fairmont Firebirds, Dayton Flyers basketball, Ohio State Buckeyes football, Cincinnati Reds and the Cincinnati Bengals, as well as any and every match shown on the Tennis Channel.

Marilyn’s last decade was challenged by Alzheimer’s disease, and the family is grateful for the care and kindness of all her Oak Creek neighbors, especially Kathy, Jill and Annette, as well as the staff of the Carlyle House.

Visitation will be held on Sunday, July 28, 2024 from 11:00am to 1:00pm with a funeral service to follow at 1:00pm at Routsong Funeral Home, 2100 E. Stroop Rd., Kettering, OH 45429. A livestream of the service will be available via Routsong’s YouTube channel. Private burial at David’s Cemetery. 

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Fairmont Athletic Boosters, 3301 Shroyer Rd, Kettering, OH 45429 or to the Carlyle House Employee Fund, 3490 Far Hills Ave, Dayton, OH 45429.