Marilyn Austin Garner

Marilyn Garner, a resident of Folsom, California, died Wednesday the 8th of November in Sacramento, California. Born in 1930 in Oklahoma City, OK to Ethan and Esther Walker, Marilyn June Walker was the youngest of four children. Her siblings, Ethan A. Walker, Jr., Raymond Dean Walker (Dean) and Margaret Estella Walker Gaston all preceded her in death. Marilyn received a Bachelor of Science in Teaching from the University of Oklahoma in 1951. She continued her education at the University Central Oklahoma from which she received her Master’s in Counseling Psychology in 1977. Following her graduation from the University of Oklahoma, Marilyn married James Edward Austin, Jr. and moved to Colorado. They had two children, James Edward Austin III and Jennifer Jo Austin. Marilyn taught school in Denver, Colorado and in Oklahoma City. She taught at Townsend Elementary and retired from Parkview Elementary in Midwest City, OK. In January of 1976, Marilyn lost her husband Jim to a brain tumor. After a short stint in Denver, Marilyn met Howard Nelson Garner while attending classes at UCO. Marilyn and Howard were married in 1978. After Marilyn and Howard retired from teaching, they traveled in their RV until moving to Palm Springs, CA. Eventually, they settled in Folsom, CA. Howard died from Alzheimer’s disease in 2016. Marilyn loved puzzles, her animals, gardening and socializing. She was always quick with a joke. She leaves a long legacy of children she taught and was a much beloved teacher. Marilyn always made everyone feel welcome in her home. When asked why she always cooked one extra baked potato for dinner, she said that she wanted to have extra in case anyone wanted to stay for dinner. She is survived by her children, Jim and Jo and several grandchildren; Rachel, Robert, and Amelia and Howard’s granddaughters, Holli and Jessica. She is also survived by six great grandchildren and one great-great granddaughter. Sadly, Marilyn was preceded in death by her oldest grandson, James Austin.