Marilyn Hope Daines Cherrington passed away peacefully at her home in Orem, Utah on September 11, 2023, at the age of 79. This concluded a life which was made notable not only by the remarkable service she rendered, but by the expressions of love she freely offered and the positive influence she had on the lives of others.

Marilyn was born on February 12, 1944, in New Brunswick, New Jersey as the youngest child of Robert Henry Daines II and Anna Merrill Daines. Marilyn's early life was significant in the way she and her family worked to build The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in the eastern United States. Marilyn often told stories of helping to clean taverns to hold church meetings. Marilyn and her siblings often made a majority of the children and youth in her tiny church units. While attending Metuchen High School, Marilyn received the distinct honor of being named to the All-Eastern Choir and performing in Washington, D.C.

Marilyn attended Brigham Young University where she earned a bachelor's degree in French with an English minor. She spent one summer studying at the prestigious Paris-Sorbbonne University. Following her graduation she taught French and English at Butler Junior High School. Some years later, after raising her children, she returned to the classroom and taught both French and English at Pleasant Grove Junior High School and then Mountain View High School in Orem, Utah. She excelled as a teacher where she not only taught her students the subject matter, but also instilled valuable life lessons.

On November 25, 1964, she married her sweetheart, David Jack Cherrington, in the Logan, Utah Temple. During their nearly 59 years of marriage they raised four children and were the grandparents to 16 grandchildren. Nothing made Marilyn feel more happy and content than to hold one of her grandchildren in her arms for hours at a time – especially if it was at the family's gathering place at Lake Tahoe. During their married life, Marilyn and David lived in Indiana, Illinois, Wisconsin, Hawaii, New Jersey, with the vast majority of time spent in Orem, Utah.

A constant in Marilyn's life was her service in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Her numerous callings included leadership and teaching positions in the Primary and Relief Society organizations. She served at the Missionary Training Center for several years, she taught Institute for one of the Brigham Young University Stakes, and she served as a Relief Society counsellor at the Utah County jail. One of her service highlights was the opportunity to return to her native New Jersey where she served a full-time mission with her husband for the LDS Church in the New Jersey, Morristown mission teaching institute. Regardless of her calling, she was always quick to teach, influence, and love whoever was before her – students, missionaries, inmates, children, and adults.

Marilyn's greatest calling and achievements came as a mother and a grandmother. She took great delight in her individual relationship with each child and grandchild. She listened with great interest and delight as each described their accomplishments and challenges. Marilyn knew what was happening in each of their lives. Each of Marilyn's grandchildren know two things with an unquestioned certainty: first that she loves them unconditionally; and second, that Marilyn has a firm testimony of the gospel of Jesus Christ. Marilyn's influence is felt and reflected in the lives of her descendants and countless others now as well as for generations to come.

Marilyn leaves behind a legacy of faith in the gospel of Jesus Christ. She was preceded in death by her parents and her brother Robert (Janet). She is survived by her husband David; her children David (Kristy), Nathan (Jana), Jennifer (Robert) Throckmorton, and Jill (Myles) Christensen; her 16 grandchildren; her brother Larry (Ginger) Daines and sister Anna Vee (Farrell) Thompson; and many beloved nieces and nephews.

Funeral services will be held at the Orem 6th Ward chapel (365 South 900 East, Orem, UT) on Wednesday, September 20, 2023, at 11:00 a.m. Friends and family are invited to attend a Celebration of Life to be held the prior evening (September 19) from 6:00–8:00 at the same location or prior to the funeral service between 9:00 and 10:30. The interment will be at the Provo Cemetery.