Obituary of Marilyn Jean Fowler

Marilyn Jean Fowler, 59, of Niles, passed away unexpectedly on Tuesday, November 11, 2014. Marilyn was born on April 26, 1955 in Niles, Michigan to Ernest and Dorothy Fowler. She spent her formative years in the Niles school district and graduated from Niles High School in 1973. Upon graduation she attended George Williams College in Illinois but after a year decided to enlist in the United States Navy. Much of her navy years were spent in Millington, Tennessee and Orlando, Florida. When she completed her navy duties she relocated back to Niles and began working at several industrial companies and Holiday Inn Express hotel. In 2006 she became an employee of WSMK radio station as an office manager and had recently been promoted to news and weather announcer for a newly acquired division of WSMK. Marilyn loved reading, especially science fiction novels and listening to music. Her favorite times were spent with her family laughing and joking. Marilyn was also civic minded, enjoyed a good debate from time to time and in 2002 she went back to school to earn her associates degree in paralegal services. Marilyn served as an Advisory Board Member for the Ferry Street Resource Center for several years and was a member of the Niles Citizen Committee. Marilyn was an active member of New Beginnings Church where she spent time volunteering in the bookstore and fellowshipping in Women of Worship (W.O.W.) Marilyn leaves to cherish her memory her father, Ernest Fowler Sr.; one sister, Ruby Smith of South Bend, Indiana; two brothers, Ernest (Debra) Fowler of South Bend and Leonard Fowler of Marietta, Georgia; two aunts Clara (Donald) Terry of East St. Louis, Illinois and Lasaundria Fordson of St. Louis, Illinois; and a host of nieces, nephews and cousins. Marilyn was preceded in death by her mother, Dorothy Fowler; sister, Emma Kelly; and two brothers, Bruce and James Odell Fowler. Services for Marilyn will be held on Thursday, November 20, 2014 at Michiana Christian Embassy located at 1922 East Main Street in Niles at 1:00 p.m. with a time of visitation beginning at noon.