Marilyn Lee Brown, 88, of Staunton, Ill., died on Friday, Aug. 18, 2023, at Anderson Hospital in Maryville. She was born April 27, 1935, in West Prairie, Ill., the daughter of the late Benjamin Harrison and Laura Elizabeth (Swank) Sawyer. She married Donald Douglas Brown on Nov. 24, 1951, at the Christian Church in Gillespie, and he survives.

Lee was employed as a nurses aide/respiratory therapy aide at Community Memorial Hospital in Staunton for many years. She later worked as an agent for Cisler Real Estate in Staunton until her retirement. She was a member of Zion Lutheran Church of Staunton and the Staunton VFW Ladies Auxiliary.

She is survived by her husband, Don Brown of Staunton; three children, Donna Henke, Richard (Karen) Brown, Terri (Gregg) Ashley; eight grandchildren, Timothy (Kathy) Henke, Keith (Misty) Henke, Kurt (Taunya) Henke, Sarah (Kevin) Dal Pozzo, Kristi (Eric) Stice, Kayla (Dan) Brown, Jessica (Phil) Ashley, Emily (Kyle) Pate; 17 great-grandchildren; three step-great-grandchildren; three great-great-grandchildren and one due any day now; and a sister, Maudie Partridge. Besides her parents, she was preceded in death by her siblings, Edna Geraci, Ralph Sawyer, Lois Oehler, Hazel Bruhn, Mary (Toni) Gobble, Bertha Pintar, Dorothy Mansholt, Delores Adler, Opal Brown; and a son-in-law, Wayne Henke.

Friends may call from 9 to 11 a.m. on Saturday, Sept. 9, at Zion Lutheran Church in Staunton. Memorial services will follow at 11 a.m. on Saturday at the church with Rev. Phil Girardin officiating.

Memorials are suggested to Zion Lutheran Church of Staunton. Condolences may be left online at http://www.williamsonfh.com. Williamson Funeral Home in Staunton is in charge of arrangements.