Marilyn Ward Buckley

Our beloved mother, grandmother, sister, aunt, great aunt and friend, Marilyn Ward Buckley 84 returned to our Heavenly Father peacefully in her sleep on March 24, 2022 from Stage 4 Chronic Kidney Failure. She was born on November 11, 1937 to Parker Matheson and Thelma Leora Ward. Her childhood was filled with love and joy from her parents. Marilyn married James R. Buckley on May 25, 1963, they were later sealed for time and all eternity in the Salt Lake City Temple on March 23, 1978 — which she was blessed to share this sacred ordinance with their two sons hand in hand and her now eternal companion. They were blessed 2 years later with a daughter to complete their eternal family.

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Though Marilyn struggled with her health from June 2021 until her passing, she always made sure that everybody was taken care of. She had the kindest of souls and would always be willing to do whatever she could for her family. You could not sever that love and compassion she had for the ones she loved.

Marilyn lost her mother to cancer when she was only 18 years old. She did not hesitate to jump in and take care of her grieving father and her younger siblings. Even when her father remarried and she gained another brother and sister, she took the trait of love and compassion that she received from her mother at this early age and kept it throughout the rest of her life. She especially showed that compassion when grandpa and grandma took in their first grandson, Brannon, when his parents passed away unexpectedly. She loved Brannon with all of her heart, might, mind and strength like he was her own son.

Marilyn decided to go into the healthcare industry early and took classes at the University of Utah that were in the radiology field. She worked to get her X-Ray certification to become an X-Ray technician —where she was hired on at LDS Hospital in 1956 and worked there for 43 years until her retirement in 1999. She wasn’t just a coworker but a friend and one that everyone loved, admired and respected. If Marilyn came to you with an issue, you knew it was serious and she helped resolve that issue without complaint. She was one of the first technicians at LDS Hospital to be certified as a Computed Tomography (CT) Technician. Marilyn took her role in this new technology seriously and made sure she was educated and trained properly to give the patients that came into the hospital any time of the day, night, or while she was on-call the best possible care. That was adopted as an Intermountain trait later on because of employees like her and others that cared for these patients.

During World War II her family moved to Parowan, Utah while her father served in the military. Marilyn grew close to those that helped look after her mother while father was away. Marilyn especially loved spending time as a child in Parowan, Utah. This is where she became very close with her family especially her sister. The bond she had with her sister was unbreakable and when you saw them together you knew the sisterly love they shared. Her love for Parowan never ceased. Marilyn even asked her daughter to have Parowan dirt buried with her to take that little piece of heaven with her to the next life.

Marilyn was a breast cancer survivor and was cancer free for over 20 years. She was a true fighter through her surgeries and chemo therapy sessions. Her love for her family and husband is what allowed Marilyn to overcome her cancer. She truly was an inspiration to everyone.

Marilyn is survived by her eternal companion/husband James Riley Jr, son Parker Ward (Amanda), daughter Leslie Ann (Jeff), brother Joe Ward (Diane Chamberlain), sister Kathy Nelson (Scott), step brother David Shaw, step sister Ellen Bowler, grandchildren Brannon, Rylee, Evan, Erin, Madison, Roran and Maxston. She was preceded in death by her son Jimmie, father Parker, mother Leora, sister Laura and her favorite dog Joe-Joe. We know her reunion with her parents, sister and son was one of joy, peace and comfort as we know they were right there to meet her as she passed through this life beyond the veil.

Viewing for family and friends will be held on Friday April 1st, 2022 from 6pm to 8pm at Rasmussen Mortuary 44 East Center Street in Fillmore, Utah 84631. Graveside services will then be held on Saturday April 2nd, 2022 at 12pm at Fillmore Cemetery 350 East 600 South Fillmore, Utah 84631

Services will be provided by Rasmussen Mortuary