Marilyn Trost Andrews was born to Ed and Bernice Trost on November 7, 1933, in Jacksonville, Florida where she spent her youth. Her parents divorced when Marilyn was 2 years old. Her mother remarried to Johnny Youmans, a WWII veteran, who became a stepfather to Marilyn during her teenage years. Marilyn enjoyed playing the piano and singing. At age 12, she won a singing contest sponsored by a Jacksonville radio station, receiving a war bond as her prize. Marilyn also enjoyed being on the women’s drill team at Jacksonville’s Landon High School where she graduated in 1951. That next fall, she enrolled at the University of Florida and as a freshman met Donald Andrews, the love of her life. They became engaged at the end of the school year and married in the middle of Don’s junior year on December 27, 1952. Marilyn worked at the University of Florida in the speech and reading laboratory. She spent many Saturday afternoons in the track stadium watching Don compete as a member and captain of the University of Florida track team. Following Don’s graduation, they embarked on a career as a military couple starting at Fort Sill, Oklahoma where their first son, David, was born in March 1955. Following flight school, they were assigned to Fort Benning in Georgia where their twins, Kenneth and Karen, were born in November 1956. Following that assignment, they lived in Kitzingen, Germany, for three years assigned to the Third Infantry Division. While in Germany, they traveled throughout Europe. Following the European assignment, they lived in Georgia, North Carolina, Texas, and Kansas fulfilling various military assignments. Marilyn was a trooper in moving frequently and always made a wonderful home. Don served two one-year tours in Vietnam. During his first tour, their fourth child, Amy, was born in 1964. In 1966, Marilyn and Don met with the missionaries and were baptized members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints while Don served as a helicopter instructor pilot at Fort Wolters, Texas. One of the missionaries was Steve Dalton, who continues to be a dear friend along with his wife, Elaine. One year later, Don, Marilyn, and their four children were sealed in the Salt Lake Temple by then-Elder Gordon B. Hinckley. Following their sealing, Elder Hinckley gave Don a blessing that if he would stay true to the covenants made in the temple, Don would return from Vietnam safely. Don then went to Vietnam for a second tour while Marilyn and children lived near her family in Jacksonville, Florida. Upon Don’s return, the family moved to Washington D.C. where he was stationed at the Pentagon. Subsequently, they moved to Fort Carson, Colorado, The Army War College in Carlisle, Pennsylvania, Fort Douglas in Salt Lake City, and lastly to Provo where Don served as chair of the Army ROTC program at Brigham Young University. Don and Marilyn have lived in Provo ever since.

Marilyn’s first church assignments were in a very small branch in Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, where she held three callings at once. Marilyn ultimately served in every auxiliary in the church. Because of her skills as a mother and in relating to children, her favorite calling was teaching in Primary.

Marilyn worked at various jobs during her life, including as bank secretary and office manager for two dentists. Her all-time favorite job was working fifteen years for Stephen R. Covey, the well-known author of “The Seven Habits of Highly Successful People”. She was a multi-tasker who did it all: she coordinated construction of the Covey’s multi-million-dollar home (often negotiating with contractors), paid Stephen’s business and personal bills, made his travel plans, scheduled his speaking engagements, interviewed and hired employees, and took his kids (and dogs) to appointments!

Upon retirement from working for Stephen Covey, Marilyn and Don accepted a church mission call to Anaheim, California, for eighteen months. Their mission leaders were their wonderful neighborhood friends, Jim and Kathy McDonald. Marilyn was an amazing mission secretary and personal secretary to Jim. Before and after their mission, Marilyn enjoyed and had wonderful memories of many trips abroad, including fifteen cruises, with Don and their close friends.

Marilyn was genuine with no hidden agendas – what you saw was what you got ­ the real deal. She loved others, was compassionate, became a master problem solver (including teenage problems), and successfully confronted many challenges until medical issues overcame her. A neighbor and close friend said Marilyn could move mountains in her day.

In 2019, when living on their own became too challenging, Don and Marilyn moved in with their youngest daughter Amy and son-in-law Jason. While growing up, Amy always told her parents that she would take care of them when the time came. Over the past five years Marilyn was the center of the universe in the home and lovingly referred to as “The Queen Mother”. She was comfortable there and surrounded by love, laughter, and lots of family – which is exactly what she wanted. Because Marilyn needed full-time care, she and Amy were joined at the hip. Wherever Amy went, Marilyn went, too. This connection resulted in many adventures and a life well-lived right up to the end. Adventures included: cheering on her great grandchildren playing in numerous sporting events (the most recent a baseball game on September 5th); many trips to Disneyland where she especially loved the ride “Soarin’ Around the World” and spent the whole ride pointing out how she’d been to all the amazing places featured on the screen; and, finally, spending her last three summers at the family lake house in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, where she loved the beauty, the water, and the abundance of family time. The immense loss of our matriarch has left a hole in our home and our hearts that cannot be overstated. However, we are comforted by our knowledge that we will see her again.

Marilyn is survived by Don, her husband of 70 years, son David (Tresha), son Kenneth (Linda), daughter Karen Wilde, daughter Amy Parkinson (Jason), and brother Robert Trost. Marilyn and Don have 14 grandchildren and 23 great grandchildren.

Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m., Saturday, October 14, 2023 at the Edgemont 14th Ward Chapel, 4200 North Foothill Drive, Provo, Utah. The family will receive friends at the Berg Mortuary of Provo, 185 East Center Street, Friday, October 13, from 6-8:00 p.m. and at the church Saturday from 9:30-10:45 a.m. prior to services. Interment, Eastlawn Memorial Hills. Condolences may be extended to the family at www.bergmortuary.com.