Marilynn (Lynn) Kay Thayer Curran was born on December 10th, 1934 and despite a year long, heroic fight for life, passed away on December 19, 2012 peacefully and surrounded by her family. She was preceded in death by her parents, Robert H. and Julia M. (Kennedy) Thayer and her brother Roger Thayer. Marilynn was born in Grand Rapids Michigan and moved to Fremont Michigan as a youngster. Her parents were both Master Gardeners who built the thriving floral shop, and wholesale growing operation known as Thayers Flowers. She was a cheerleader, and champion high school debater at Fremont High School and a popular lifeguard at Fremonts swimming hole, and graduated with honors in 1953. Lynn was also named Miss Newaygo County and first runner-up to Miss Michigan that same year. She graduated from Michigan State University with a degree in Home Economics in 1957 and relocated to Grand Rapids to model part-time and appeared as Miss Romper Room on a local television station. She married C. James Curran of Leominster Massachusetts on March 13th, 1959. She is survived by her children, Pat (Jennifer) Curran of Davenport Iowa, Laurie (Tom) Loitz of Geneseo Illinois, Susan (Bob) Gilliland of Hesperia Michigan, and Mike (Pam VanCamp) Curran of Bettendorf Iowa. She was blessed with nine grandchildren; Jennifer Lynn (Will) Prewitt, Jim Vanderwall, Luke and Jared Loitz, Lexi Eggers, Brandon VanCamp, Josh, Cameron, and Trisha Curran, as well as two great-grandchildren who will all miss her tremendously. A Geneseo, Illinois resident since 1979 she had been employed by Thayers Flowers, Hewsons Greenhouse, the Deck Motel and Hammond Henry Hospital before her retirement. Lynn will be remembered as a wonderful Mother and Grandmother, not only to her family, but also to an ever-expanding group of their friends and her co-workers who she adopted over the years. She was the cool Mom everybody wished they had and wanted to hang out withShe was a wonderful cook, beautiful florist, talented seamstress and crafting wiz, who loved knitting (1/2 of Geneseo and many in Fremont are wearing her scarves), working crossword puzzles, reading, and gardening. All her life Lynn loved to swim, in Long Lake and the swimming hole as a girl, and as a 78 year old, eagerly donning her swimsuit for swim exercise at the Geneseo Community Center or in Wendys pool. All her life, Lynn had an open heart and a constantly open door. She always had the time to share a cup of coffee and if you were lucky, some ice cream dessert. She thoroughly enjoyed decorating her tiny porch for every season, just to bring smiles to all who passed by her little house on Center Street. School children and dog walkers alike enjoyed the Santas and scarecrows, rabbits and Leprechauns who were like Lynn, always smiling back at them. Over her lifetime she had painful challenges but she faced them head on, with an amazing strength and a wicked sense of humor. (Even in her pink wheelchair-you couldnt keep up with her in the mall!) Lynns life was a wonderful example of true success, she was beautiful inside and out, and her graceful legacy will be long remembered by many. In keeping with her wishes, she has been cremated and a private family service was held at Vandemore Funeral Home in Geneseo. In the spring, her ashes will be scattered in Fremont, Michigan a place that held a lifetime of cherished memories for her and her family. So many lives are a little less bright without her. Memorial gifts can be made to the Fremont Area District Library, 104 East Main Street, 49412. Please include the name Marilynn Curran on the subject line of your check.