Marilyn moved to Copper 30 years ago in hopes of a more rural setting than her current town of Stockton. Harking from a small town in Nebraska where the nearest town boasted a population of 26 people, Copperopolis fit the bill perfectly. Organizing the Copper Run was one of the first things Marilyn did when she hit Copper. She and her husband Ed were volunteer firefighters with Copper Fire and she was wanting to help raise much needed funds for the small department. With that thought in mind, knowing the school needed funds also she pulled the two together and helped organize the run to benefit the two. She ran the run for 12 years, pushing herself on the 13th and then handed the reins over to the two organizations.
By 1989 Marilyn was our local postmaster, not to be called a postmistress as the post requires a "master of knowledge" and by by 1998 realized that being a supervisor was not what she wanted. She took a USPS job in Avery and retired in 2005. She took an early retirement because "Ed was 75 and I wanted some family time" as they now had a son together, Daniel.
As an avid outdoors-man, swimmer and exercise enthusiast the slow pace of retirement did not suit her well. Marilyn sought out community related venues and became involved in the Friends of the Library. Holding a Masters in Library Science Marilyn felt comfortable among those who wanted to reach children and adults with the written word. Soon thereafter she sought out the Lions Club as Ed's health was dwindling and she "liked what they did for the community and the social setting."
As Ed's dementia began to take over, Marilyn's life invariably slowed down. She remained active in her church choir and continued to swin many times a week, even compete. Due to a need within the Lions Marilyn stepped into the President's position in July of 2010 and her Ed passed October 13, 2010. "My swimming friends kept me sane" and the socializing of the Lions allowed her to feel human and not lost.
She now takes on a lesser role within the Lions and remains active within the friends of the library. As she swims in Sonora she has become the inter county library loan shuttle from Tuolumne to Calaveras County and visa versa, "its an easy way to give to the community." She has also been a library commissioner since 2006.
Not wanting to slow down in December 2012 Marilyn began training for a new goal, the Brute Swim occurring in November 2013. The Brute swim consists of 220 yards butterfly, 400 yards individual medley (100 freestyle, 100 backstroke, 100 breaststroke, 100 fly) and finishing the swim with 1650 freestyle. "I simply want to attempt to finish" said Marilyn laughing "I'm not trying to win."
by,
Charity Maness
