Marilynn Leone's Obituary
Marilynn Gillilan Leone, loving wife, mother, grandmother, aunt, sister, and friend, passed away on Friday, September 9, 2022, after a nearly six-year battle with lung disease. Marilynn was born in Dallas, Texas, on May 29, 1945, to Roberta Gillilan and Robert "Bob" Gillilan, who both preceded her in death as did her dear sister, Kathy Zinter, grandparents Daisy "Mimi" Miller and Edward Seagraves Miller, as well as her beloved aunt, Dorothy Stead.
Marilynn is survived by her husband of 57 years, Lou Leone, of Mesquite; son, Marc Leone and wife, Kendra, of Cincinnati, Ohio; son, Philip Leone, and wife, Kyndall, of Midland, Texas; grandchildren, Gunnar Witcher and Ella Grace Leone, of Midland; nephew, Paul Robert Zinter, of Northglenn, Colorado; nephew, Ed Zinter and adopted daughter, Chanda Zinter of Parker, Colorado, and their daughters, Randee, Bailee, and Aimee Zinter, whom Marilynn loved as granddaughters. She also leaves behind sisters, Mareta Glover, Judy Gillilan, and brother, Robert Gillilan, as well as many nieces, nephews, cousins, brother-in-laws, sister-in-laws, and countless friends . . . because she rarely, if ever, met a stranger. A later-in-life lover of lap-dogs, Marilynn will be especially missed by Bella and Trixie.
A graduate of North Dallas High School in 1963, Marilynn met her future husband, Lou, in 1961 through a mutual friend and Bulldog classmate, Ronnie Grubbs. After attending the University of North Texas for two years, Marilynn married Lou on September 3, 1965, in Slaughter Chapel at First Baptist Church of Dallas. The couple settled in Mesquite, Texas, and raised two boys, Marc and Phil. She was a devoted wife and a wonderful, supportive mother who loyally attended far more athletic events than she ever could have anticipated, cheering on her sons and their friends from peewee and little league through high school. She also insisted her sons challenge themselves academically and intellectually, encouraging them to develop and pursue natural artistic and creative talents.
Professionally, Marilynn joined Dallas Power & Light (later TXU) in 1965 as a customer service representative before eventually earning promotions to various training and management positions. It was a fitting 30-year career for a woman who loved people, loved talking to people, and loved helping others. After relocating to Memphis, Tennessee, where she defeated breast cancer and resided for eight years, Marilynn and Lou returned to Mesquite in 2003; she then served the Mesquite ISD as a teacher's aide at various elementary schools and particularly enjoyed her time working with kindergartners at Shands Elementary.
In the last years of her life, Marilynn took great joy in being a member of First Baptist Church in Mesquite; she also delighted in losing intense Uno matches with granddaughter Ella Grace and playing cards and chatting with her "clubhouse crew" friends at Cambridge Court retirement community. Marilynn Leone was a force of love, positivity, and optimism. She leaves a legacy of consistent kindness and compassion towards all. Her life was well spent. Her star will continue to shine bright through all of us she loved and affected.
Celebration of life services will be held Friday, September 16 at Restland Funeral Home and Cemetery in Dallas (13005 S Greenville Ave Dallas, TX 75243) beginning with a 9:00 am visitation then a graveside service at 10:00 am. Immediately after the service, all are welcome and encouraged to join family and friends for lunch and fellowship at First Baptist Church in Mesquite (127 E Kimbrough St., Mesquite, TX 75149).
Funeral arrangements for Ms. Marilynn Leone have been faithfully entrusted to Restland Funeral Home and Cemetery, which is located at 13005 Greenville Ave., at the intersection of Restland Road, Dallas, Texas 75243, and can be reached at (972) 238-7111.
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