Marilyn Jean Strickland

On Tuesday, January 20, 2026, Marilyn Jean Strickland Bromby put down her gardening tools, stepped away from her hostessing duties, and was welcomed home into the arms of her loving Savior, Jesus Christ.

Marilyn was born June 5, 1941, in Sulphur Springs, Texas to Emma Jean and Charles Strickland. She spent her childhood riding horseback and learning to cook and work cattle alongside her grandparents, parents, and sisters at her grandparents’ farm east of Sulphur Springs. According to all her siblings, Marilyn was an excellent horseman! She was a 1959 graduate of Sulphur Springs High School. After graduation, Marilyn served as a secretary at the First Christian Church in Sulphur Springs and went on to work at Rockwell International before moving to Olathe, Kansas. While living in Kansas, Marilyn obtained her real estate license and became one of the top producing agents in the Kansas City area specializing in relocation, an achievement which she was honored to have received for many consecutive years.

Marilyn will be remembered by family and friends for her amazing culinary talent, hospitality, and green thumb! She had the most beautiful vegetable and herb gardens and loved to host dinner parties with her harvests! Marilyn took great pride in her roses and other flowers. Like the rest of her large family, she especially loved when everyone was together for holidays and her mother’s annual birthday celebration!

Marilyn is survived by her children, Susan Baley (Korey) and Spencer Hodge, grandchildren Colton Baley, Emma Blackmon (Brody), Brayden Hodge, and Olivia Hodge, sisters, Linda Payne, Carol Gee (Tim), and Sharon Burney (Bryan), as well as 7 wonderful nieces and nephews, their children, and grandchildren. She is also survived by very special cousins, Jim James (Sue and son Buck), Cindy Sedlak (Lenny).

Services are planned for Friday, January 23, 2026, at 10:00am at West Oaks Funeral Home in Sulphur Springs, Texas. The family will receive visitors prior to the service at 9:00am at the funeral home. A private burial will be held at a later date.

Arrangements are under the direction of West Oaks Funeral Home. www.westoaksfuneralhome.com

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