Marilyn Jo Franz

Marilyn Jo Franz, 69, passed away peacefully with family by her side after a courageous battle with cancer on Wednesday, July 27, 2022, in Stillwater, Oklahoma. Funeral service will be held on Thursday, August 4, 2022, at 2:00pm at Dighton Marler Funeral Home Chapel in Stillwater, Ok. Interment will be held at 10:30am on Saturday, August 6, 2022, at Liberal Cemetery in Liberal, Kansas. Cowgirl attire is appropriate at both services.

Marilyn was born on April 15, 1953, in Liberal, Kansas to Gene and JoAnn “Jody” (Dowdy) Franz. She grew up on the family farm near Turpin, Oklahoma, and graduated from Liberal High School in 1971. After high school she moved to Stillwater where she attended Oklahoma State University and was a decorated collegiate athlete. She graduated from OSU in 1976 with a Bachelor of Science degree, majoring in Social Sciences. During her years at Oklahoma State, she developed a love for Stillwater and lived there for the remainder of her life. Through her passion for horses, she built, owned, and operated the Walking F Ranch near Stillwater from 1987 until her passing. Through the ranch she built many meaningful relationships and competed in many cutting horse competitions, highlighted by winning the NCHA Amateur Futurity Championship in 2015.
Marilyn is preceded in death by her parents, Gene and JoAnn Franz, her brother, Alan Franz, her cousin, Susan Swan, and niece, Megan Franz, as well as other loved family members.

Marilyn is survived by her nephew, Alex Franz and wife Shelley, their children Violet, Alan, Matthew and Whit, nephew Miles Franz and wife Ginger, their children Drake, Hadley and Finley, cousin Kylie Dillon and husband Nick, their children Drew and Cole, her uncle Gary Franz and his family, friend Kelsey Turner who was like a daughter to her, as well as other numerous loved family and friends.

Marilyn was a woman of great faith. She was a witness to all friends and family of the power of love, forgiveness, and walking in the path of Jesus. Her greatest joys in life were spending time with her family, friends, animals, and playing the piano. She loved rooting for the OSU Cowboys!

Memorial contributions to the Marilyn Jo Franz Cancer Research Endowment can be made to MD Anderson Cancer Center (“Marilyn Jo Franz” in the memo) c/o Dighton Marler Funeral Home, 5106 N. Washington St., Stillwater, Oklahoma 74075. Or directly to www.mdanderson.org/gifts. Click on the “Give Now” red button then select “Give in memory of…” and enter Marilyn Jo Franz.

For those unable to attend the funeral service on Thursday, it will be live streamed. Visit the obituary on the Dighton-Marler website for the link in the event section.

Condolences may be sent to the family via an online guestbook at www.dightonmarler.com.