Marilyn J. Morley

It is with deep sadness that we announce the passing of Marilyn J. Morley, 88, longtime resident of Moline, Illinois, currently residing at Friendship Manor Assisted Living, Rock Island. Marilyn passed away on Saturday, July 26, 2025, at Clarissa C. Cook Hospice House in Bettendorf, Iowa, after a courageous battle with cancer.

Services are 11:00 a.m. Thursday, July 31, in the Horizon Room at Trimble Funeral Home at Trimble Pointe, 701 12th Street, Moline. Visitation is from 9:30 a.m. until the time of services. Entombment is in Moline Memorial Park Chapel Mausoleum, immediately followed by a luncheon at Riverside United Methodist Church, 712 16th Street, Moline. Memorials may be made to Riverside United Methodist Church.

Marilyn June Morley was born on June 20, 1937, in Kewanee, Illinois to Ferrel Sumner & Lula Belle “Manny” (Parker) Morley. She graduated from Moline High School in 1955, and later Black Hawk College.

Her professional journey began at the City of Moline, where she served for five years as Secretary to the Superintendent of Streets and Inspectors. She then worked for six years as Office Manager and Secretary at First United Methodist Church in Moline. In 1966, Marilyn joined John Deere Malleable in East Moline – later known as the John Deere Foundry – where she worked as a Computer Programmer, Instructor, and Site Administrator. In 1987, she was promoted to IT Technical Information Analyst at Deere & Company Headquarters, where she developed training materials and web content and served as a team leader. She retired from Deere & Company in 1999 after 33 years of dedicated service.

Following her retirement, Marilyn continued to give back to her community through volunteer work at Logan Elementary School Library, the Mississippi Valley Regional Blood Center, the Colonel Davenport Historical House, and Riverside United Methodist Church, where she had been a faithful member since 1949. She was also an active member of Pilot Club International since 1981, serving as President four times, and was a longtime member of the Mississippi Valley Quilters Guild. Marilyn’s legacy lives on not only in the quilts she made, but in those she inspired to take up quilting themselves.

Marilyn was a strong, self-sufficient woman who lived a life rooted in faith, service, and creativity. She shared her warmth, quiet strength, and generous spirit with her family and many friends and will be remembered for the love and care she extended to those around her.

The family extends heartfelt thanks to the teams at Trinity Cancer Center, Friendship Manor Assisted Living, Heartland Hospice, MercyOne Genesis Hospice Care, and Clarissa C. Cook Hospice House for their compassion and support.

Those left to honor her memory are her sister, Vera Slater, brother, Roy (Janice) Morley; nieces and nephews, Mark (Cindy) Slater, Chris (Connie) Slater, Todd (Lisa) Slater, Timothy (Chris) Morley, Julie Holman, Diana (Michael) Richman, and William Morley.

She was preceded in death by her parents; brother, Lelan Morley; and brother-in-law, Thomas Slater.

Online condolences may be shared at TrimbleFuneralHomes.com.