Marilyn Stevens

Marilyn Miller Johnson Stevens, 86, of Baileyville, IL passed away Sunday, June 9, 2024, at FHN Memorial Hospital in Freeport, Illinois surrounded by her family and friends.

Born January 6, 1938 in the Santa Fe community of Maury County, Tennessee, she was the daughter of the late Thomas Earl Johnson and the late Laura Adele Sowell Johnson. She was a 1955 graduate of Santa Fe High School. In 1956, she married Lloyd Duffield and moved to Illinois. In 1975, she married Paul Dorsey who preceded her in death June 30, 1993. On June 10, 1995, she married Donald Lee Stevens who preceded her in death June 15, 2019.

Marilyn worked at Honeywell Microswitch in Freeport for several years. For 48 years, she owned and operated Kind Kare Kennels. She loved taking care of her furry customers as well as the many she raised and adopted. She had a special place in her heart for her pets Isabelle and Sammie. Marilyn loved traveling back to Tennessee to see her family and friends. Her favorite flower were purple irises, the Tennessee state flower, and she also loved sunflowers. Marilyn also loved old westerns, old country western music, and was a rabid football fan, especially of the Tennessee Titans. She was a member of North Grove Evangelical Church and attended Fly Nazarene Church in Tennessee.

She is survived by her children, Teresa (Chuck) Wellman of Cedar Falls, IA; Tim (Holly) Duffield of Culleoka, TN; John (Linda) Stevens of Shannon, IL; Nanette (Henry Alonso) Daniels of Freeport, IL; Steve (Debbie) Stevens of Forreston, IL; Terry (Deb) Stevens of Baileyville, IL; Peggy (Jim) DeBord of DeLeon, TX; and Cindy Stevens of Freeport, IL; daughter-in-law, Lynnette Duffield of Moweaqua, IL; brothers Claude Johnson and Karl (Beverly) Johnson; sister Martha Hay; grandchildren, Adam, Tonya, Felicia, Joshua, Hannah, Katrina, Emma, Lyndsey, Andrew, Kate, Rachel, Jessica, Tiffany, Grace, Sam, Ryan, Megan, Steven, Nathan and Jason; great-grandchildren, Becca, Dominic, Vinnie, Molly, Andrea, Ashley, Jacob, Faith, Xander, Jaxon, Zachary, Marcus, Madison, Liam, Monty, and Tim; and great-great grandchildren, Rowen, Ryker, and Russell; and many nieces, nephews, great nieces, great nephews, great great nieces, and great great nephews.

She was preceded in death by her son, Tom Duffield; great grandson, Scotty Rogers; sister, Margaret (James) Beard; brother, Miles (Betty) Johnson; brother-in-law Maricus Hay; and sister-in-law, Mildred Johnson.

Memorial services will be 11:00 A.M. Saturday, June 22, 2024, at North Grove Evangelical Church, 10384 W Coffman Rd, Forreston, IL. Pastor Don Jamerson will be officiating. The family will visit with friends from 9:00 A.M. until service time at the church. A memorial service will be held in Tennessee at a later date. A memorial has been established in Marilyn’s name.

A second memorial service will be held at 3:00 P.M. Saturday, July 20, 2024, at Fly Church of the Nazarene, 5688 Leipers Creek Rd, Santa Fe, TN. Pastor James Lunsford, Jr. will be officiating. The family will visit with friends from 1:00 P.M. until the service time at the church.