Marilyn Jeralee Farley

Marilyn Farley, 88, passed away peacefully on March 28, 2025, surrounded by her loving family. A memorial service will be held at 11:00 A.M. on Wednesday, April 2, 2025, at Caldwell Parrish Funeral Home in Urbandale, IA. A visitation will be held one hour prior to the service. A private family burial will follow at Fairview Cemetery in Madrid, IA. She was a beautiful soul whose radiant spirit dazzled the world around her. Her life is celebrated as one which was filled with joy and lived to the fullest.

She was born on August 5, 1936, in Ottumwa, Iowa. She lived her childhood growing up on her grandparents’ farm in the country and attending school in Ottumwa. Her senior year, she moved to live with her dad in Marathon and graduated from high school there. She went on to work as a waitress at her father’s small-town café and hotel. As she got older, she worked primarily as a bookkeeper, with Supervalu Grocers and then the truck tire industry. Her cherished memories, though, were those days working at her father’s business—entertaining the local patrons with her stories bringing laughter and fun to their daily lives. Her passion for music and dance were realized and the “jitterbug” became one of her favorites. In 1967, she established another favorite—her “sweet Jimmy” as she would call him. It was May 12th when she and Jim married—and they would share 56 wonderful years together. They dedicated their time to each other and their family. After raising their kids, they embraced their new role as grandparents with natural ease. Life centered around 4 grandkids and 3 great-grandkids and they never missed an event. Marilyn and Jim bought a new house to accommodate their golden years and their growing family. They moved into a larger, ranch-style home in which they held countless gatherings, celebrations, and holidays.

Marilyn was a vibrant woman who radiated love and joy. She had a zest for life and that “boogie in her bones” as her friends at Maggie’s Place learned well. No tangle of her oxygen tube was going to hold her back from her dancing drive just as nothing in life would keep her from shining. Her moving and grooving even went “viral” on TikTok in the last year and amassed over 11,000 views! Our beloved Marilyn would be the first to tell you she has lived a happy and great life. She offered up her best advice in a recent community spotlight in which she was featured. Plainly and simply her words were, “Live your life to its fullest, regardless of what others think.”

Marilyn was preceded in death by her parents, Florence (Hills) and William Carter; her husband, Jim Farley; her son, Mark Peterson; her brothers, William Carter, Douglas Klise, and David Klise; and her sister, Linda Dullard. She is survived by her sisters, Cindy Smith, Sandra Sieve, and Karen Klise; her children, Jeralee (Darin) Justice and Scott (Lisa) Peterson; her grandchildren, Heather (Eric) Ulan, James (Sara) Davidson, Avery (Noah) Ruchti, and Lauren Peterson; and her great-grandchildren, Genevieve Davidson, Bauer Ulan, and Sayer Ulan

The family extends their heartfelt thanks to the dedicated caregivers at Maggie’s Place at Kennybrook and Suncrest Hospice Services. They would also like to extend their deepest gratitude to Caldwell Parrish Funeral Home & Crematory. The grace your team showed in offering profound compassion and care will always comfort us. In Marilyn’s honor, memorial contributions may be sent to these wonderful organizations.