Marilyn French Rhodes passed away on February 4, 2019 in Richfield, Utah. A lifelong resident of Kanab, with a brief side trips for school and work, Marilyn was recovering from surgery in Richfield to be closer to her son Ken and his family when she died.

Marilyn grew up in Kanab on Second West close to her many Swapp, Pugh, and Johnson cousins. Born in 1940, she was the daughter of Charles Cecil and Norma Swapp French.  Marilyn attended University of Utah and later Utah State University to earn her degree in Elementary Education.  A woman with a plan, Marilyn first attended beauty college in Salt Lake City to become a licensed beautician, a vocation which helped her pay for college. Marilyn had many fond memories of working in her first salon, Gunnar’s Beauty Salon, and also her days as a member of Sigma Zonk “Fratority” at USU which established many lifelong friendships.

Though well-known for two generations of Kanab students as a fourth-grade teacher at Kanab Elementary from 1980 to 2005, Marilyn also taught for 10 years at Garden Grove Unified School District in California. She began her teaching career in Utah’s Granite School District.

Never idle, Marilyn worked several nights a week in the Dude Room of Chef’s Palace. She loved her coworkers and the job allowed her to earn extra income which she lavished on her only son, Ken Rhodes, his spouse Lisa Jane Laird, and grandchildren Charles, Layne Anne, and Olivia Rhodes. She will be fondly remembered for gardening, baking, and many jars of home canned apple sauce, Himalaya berry jam and pears all grown in her yard.

She is also survived by her sister Harriet Stubbs and beloved nephews and nieces Marty Folcomer, David Folcomer, Mary Ellen Butterworth, Kimberlee Rawers, Michael Stubbs, and Stephanie Stubbs. She is preceded in death by her parents and sisters Norma, Elaine, and Larue.

Funeral Services will be held on Saturday, February 9 at 11 a.m. in the Kanab, UT 3^rd Ward Chapel of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints – 20 W Center Street. A viewing will be held at 10 a.m.  Burial will be at the Kanab Cemetery. Arrangements were made by Mosdell Mortuary.

The family would like to thank family friend Layle Johnson for caring for Marilyn in her home, and Roxi Pearson and Nicole Holland for additional personal care and friendship. They would also like to thank Coral Desert and Richfield rehabilitation centers for their compassionate care while Marilyn was recovering from surgery done in December.