Marilyn Martha Edwards passed away on Saturday, May 2, 2026, at Big Horn Rehabilitation and Care Center, in Sheridan, Wyoming, with her devoted family by her side. Marilyn was born Feb. 28, 1931 in Council Bluffs, IA to Rudolph and Elsie L. (Owen) Brandstetter.

Think positive! was her motto, and The Golden Rule was the mantra she lived by, always looking for the bright side or a valuable life lesson that could be gleaned from even the direst of situations. Her favorite song was "What a Wonderful World" as sung by Louis Armstrong, 1967.

Marilyn married Gordon Drake, with whom she had seven children. They later divorced. She married Gordon P. Edwards in 1975 and had one son.

In her younger years, Marilyn was a member of the Calvary Baptist Church and Hill Center Social Club. Along with being a homemaker and mother, she spent decades working in the medical field as a CNA caring for people at Reimelt's Nursing Home, Sheridan Memorial Hospital, and Sheridan Manor. She also worked as a lab technician, private child care provider, and as a gardener at Eaton's Ranch, along with a few other service industry jobs after retirement. Marilyn loved taking care of people and animals, being busy, and doing her best for the common goal as she put it.

Marilyn's energetic and caring spirit also led her to volunteering, as she was happiest when being useful.

In her younger years, she volunteered in various political campaigns and Club activities. In later years, she enjoyed volunteering at the Story Fish Hatchery, the free mobile spay and neutering clinics, the free medical clinics with Dr. Thickman, and the Sheridan Community Dinners every fall.

Marilyn loved God and celebrated his creations, especially her beloved Wyoming and its Big Horn Mountains. She was an avid animal lover and advocate her entire life. In her younger years, she nurtured and raised orphan animals of all species, keeping a few as pets (the pet skunks), but returned most of them to the wild, with some of them returning on a yearly basis to check in. Marilyn also loved her family, friends, learning, spelling, music, especially western, dancing, baking fantastic bread and pies, yard work, trivia, and making chokecherry jelly. She was politically astute and an early advocate for women's rights, choosing to serve her beliefs through quiet perseverance, example, hard work, and an occasional debate from her unique historical perspective.

Marilyn is preceded in death by her parents, husband, Gordon P. Edwards, Sr. in 1999, brother, Robert Brandstetter, Denver, CO, infant granddaughter, Tiffany L. Finney, and ex-husband, Gordon Drake.

She is survived by children Barbara Frigo (Jim Bocek), Jim Drake, Walter (Patti) Drake, Linda Finney, Tom (Janet) Drake, Gordon P. (Anna) Edwards, Jr., all of Sheridan, Marilyn Dalton, Cleveland, OH, Connie (John) Morris, Otter, MT, sisters, Mary Lou Walters, Walline (Marv) Johnson, Sheridan, WY and brother, Richard Path, North Platte, NE. Additionally, she is survived by eighteen grandchildren, thirty-three great-grandchildren, nine great-great-grandchildren, and several nephews and nieces.

Services will be held on Wednesday, May 13, 2026, at Champion Kane Funeral Home at 11:00 a.m., followed by Interment located in the Sheridan Municipal Cemetery. A reception will be held back in Champion Kane Reception Hall following the interment.

Champion Kane Funeral Home has been entrusted with local arrangements.

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