Marilyn Cranston

Marilyn Jane Mowrey Cranston, age 95, passed away peacefully on November 24, 2021 from natural causes in Salt Lake City, Utah. She had been living at Sunrise of Holladay for the past seven years. 

Marilyn was born on September 7, 1926, in Ashland, Ohio, daughter of Helen (Yolton) Mowrey and Donald Mowrey, and sister of John Mowrey. She remembered her childhood in Ashland as idyllic, filled with friends and extended family. After graduating from Ashland High School, Marilyn moved to New York City to attend art school. It was an exciting time to be living in New York. While there she made life-long friends and met her future husband, Bob Cranston. Bob was serving as a doctor in the US Army and made career of it. The Army life took them to some wonderful places including, Heidelberg, Germany, San Antonio, Texas, Oahu, Hawaii, and The Presidio in San Francisco. Along the way they had three children, Cynthia, Caren, and Bob III. 

Marilyn was a devoted wife and mother who created a beautiful and welcoming home wherever she and the family were living. She had a great sense of style that was reflected in all that she did. When Bob retired from the Army, Bob and Marilyn moved the family to Norwich, Connecticut where Bob practiced Anesthesiology. After his retirement they moved to Stuart, Florida where they built their dream home on the 10^th hole of the Mariner Sands golf course. Bob passed away in 2000 at the age of 80. In December of 1999 they celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary. After Bob's passing, Marilyn became an avid croquet enthusiastic and loved spending time with friends on the croquet courts. In 2014 she moved to Salt Lake City to be closer to her daughter, Cynthia, and son-in-law Matt Tietje. 

She is pre-deceased by her parents, brother, husband, son Bob, and grandson, Will Mecklenburg. She is survived by her daughter, Caren Cranston, daughter and son-in-law, Cindy Mecklenburg and Matt Tietje, granddaughter, Kate Wright and her husband Mat and their children Frances and Carroll.

Marilyn loved her family and friends and later in life, her two little dogs, Brutus and Reecies. Both were Pomeranians and they gave her great joy and devoted companionship. Her remains will be buried next to those of her husband at Mariner Sands.

We will miss our mom every day. She loved to laugh and was a funny, feisty, and courageous woman. She also had a sweet tooth with a special fondness for ice cream. We are grateful to the Sunrise staff for all that they did for her over the years as well as the staff of Inspiration Home Health and Hospice for their care during her last days. If you would like to remember her in a special way, please make a gift in her memory to a charity of your choice.