Marilyn Ruth Horton was born on April 21, 1938 in Shreveport, Louisiana, daughter of Harry Holman Horton, Sr. and Ruth Bertha Collins Horton, sister to a three-year old brother, Harry Holman Horton, Jr. Their father, Harry, Sr. worked for a wholesale grocery and Ruth stayed at home with the children. Younger sister Karen Jane was born 12 years later. Both grandfathers, Guy T. Horton and William E. Collins had passed away, but grandmothers Currie Belle Farmer Horton and Mattie Wallace Adams Collins lived nearby and were an important part of the family. Marilyn went to Creswell School at age 5 and was an excellent student from the beginning. She graduated in 1955 from C. E. Byrd High School as salutatorian and went on to Northwestern State College where she majored in nursing. She graduated with honors and passed the nursing board exam, making her a registered nurse. While in nursing school in Baton Rouge, she met her future husband, Gerald Lee Beeson, who was a patient of hers. They married August 22, 1958, at First Baptist Church in Shreveport, and moved to Dallas, Texas, which was Gerald's home. There she worked at Baylor Hospital until their first daughter, Melanie Sue, was born the next year. Second daughter Melinda Rae came the following year and third daughter Michelle Lee ten years later. Their family was complete. Marilyn stayed at home and raised her family for 20 years, taking them to activities at First Baptist Church in Dallas, where she and Gerald were active members. She also enjoyed helping out in the girls' classrooms and taking them to music lessons and scouting. When Melinda went off to Baylor University, Marilyn took a real estate course and went to work in that business. She was very successful in selling houses for several years, but returned to her nursing career eventually and studied to be a Women's Health Nurse Practitioner, practicing in that field for 15 years until she finally retired. She then cared for Gerald, who was in failing health with Parkinson's disease, until his death in June, 2017. Whatever she attempted, she tackled with a seemingly endless energy and passion. Marilyn and Gerald joined South Garland Baptist Church on September 16, 1990, and they made that church their home for over 25 years. Marilyn was a choir member and a Sunday School teacher, and she served on many committees. She dearly loved her church and Pastor Larry Davis, whose ever-present shepherding and support were greatly appreciated through the years. Marilyn moved away from the Garland area in early 2018 where she and Gerald had lived for more than 55 years and settled in Sun City, Georgetown, Texas. She met Doug Johnson, who was her best friend and constant companion until her death on November 17, 2018. He brought her much joy in her last few months. Marilyn is survived by daughters Melanie Baker, Melinda Marx and Michelle Greissinger; brother Harry Horton Jr. and sister Karen Grover; 6 grandchildren: Justin Baker, Jamie Thompson, Mark Bartkus, Brook Shelley, Hunter Shelley and Omar Levendosky; and 4 great-grandchildren: Clint Baker, Max & Ethan Thompson and Andrew Shelley as well as numerous nieces and nephews. Marilyn's memorial service will be held at her beloved church, South Garland Baptist, on Saturday, December 1, 2018, at 2:00 p.m. She will be interred at Dallas-Fort Worth National Cemetery in Dallas, close to her husband of 58 years, Gerald. Her family has the comfort to know that she is at home with her Lord Jesus Christ because of her lifelong faith in Him.