Marilyn Garber (née Stokes), age 86, passed away peacefully on January 4, 2026, in Grapevine, Texas. Marilyn was born on August 29, 1939 in Rochester, Michigan to William and Dorothy James. She was an exemplary student and from an early age enjoyed music and theater. Marilyn attended the University of Central Michigan in Mount Pleasant, Michigan where she studied Early Childhood Education and was a Thespian and Master Singer. In 1959, while working on her bachelor’s degree at CMU, she met and married Robert A. Garber, Jr. of Shepherd, Michigan. In Shepherd, she worked with Robert in the Garber Funeral Home and raised her three young daughters. In 1972, Robert and Marilyn relocated to Harker Heights, Texas. There, Marilyn founded and operated Sunshine Nursery School where she nurtured and inspired countless young students during their most formative years. In the 1980’s, Marilyn transitioned from teaching to develop Ad Mart Specialty Advertising company that she owned and operated until the late 1990’s. In 1999, Marilyn and Robert purchased 12 acres of land in Moffat, Texas where they created the Silo Christmas Tree Farm. For the next 17 years, the Silo Christmas Tree Farm was a cherished seasonal tradition for countless families in the Central Texas community. In 2016, they retired from farm life and in 2019, relocated to Roanoke, Texas outside of Dallas.
Marilyn was married to her husband, Robert A. Garber, Jr. for 66 years—a marriage marked by devotion, shared work, and deep family roots. She was a strong and determined woman who loved games and puzzles, reading, gardening, working and laughing with her friends and family. Her legacy lives on through the many lives she touched as a teacher, business owner, wife, mother, aunt, grandmother, and great-grandmother. Marilyn is survived by her husband, Robert, and their three daughters: Amy Beth, (spouse Michael Harkins), Mary Frances, (spouse Rodney Helton), and Anne Kay (spouse Bruce Vanderbush). She is also survived by six grandchildren: Colin Harkins, Claire Harkins, Matthew Helton, Kadi (Helton) Wyman-Beard, Erin Vanderbush and Lindsay Vanderbush, and two great grandchildren: Waylon Wyman-Beard and Marlee Wyman-Beard, all of whom brought her immense joy. Marilyn is also survived by many extended family members, including first cousins, numerous nieces and nephews, grand-nieces and nephews, and friends who were like family. Marilyn is preceded in death by her father, William James, and her stepfather, James Stokes, her mother, Dorothy Stokes, her sister Nancy, her brother Gerald, and brother-in-law Ken Myers.
The family is planning a memorial service at a date yet to be determined with close friends and family. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made in Marilyn’s memory to the United Methodist Church in Shepherd, Michigan. Arrangements have been entrusted to Berry Funeral Home of Shepherd.
