Marilyn Eloise (Scobie) Steenbock was born on August 4, 1924, in Janesville, WI, the second of six children born to William and Mabel Scobie. Raised in Wisconsin, she was employed at General Motors, Oldsmobile Division, Janesville, during World War II, prior to enlisting in the U S Marine Corps, being stationed first at Camp LeJeune, North Carolina, and subsequently at Camp Pendleton, California. One of only a handful of women Marines selected to go to Pendleton, she always counted that as a blessing because it was there that she met Stan, (Stanley Richard Steenbock). They married in May, 1946 in Oceanside, and spent their honeymoon in a Quonset Hut on the base just before they were discharged. She loved the California climate and resolved never to live in a cold climate again.

Daughter Judith Louise was born in Sacramento in 1949, and Michele Denise was born in San Pedro in 1951. They moved into their house on Josie Avenue in Long Beach in 1952, where she lived until 2015, when she first moved into an independent living facility. In 2019, she moved up to Torrance to be nearer to relatives.

Marilyn was active growing up in 4-H Clubs, choral groups, a singing trio with 2 of her sisters, Gwen and Wynne, and as a violinist in her school orchestra. As an adult, she led many Camp Fire girls’ groups, directed the Altar Guild at St Gregory’s Episcopal Church in Long Beach for 60 years, and volunteered as a docent at Rancho Los Alamitos in Long Beach.

Her father’s early death just days before she graduated from high school meant she had to abandon plans to go to university and become either an elementary school teacher or a dietitian. Instead, went out to work to help the family finances. In her forties, she finally got a chance to complete her education, and graduated with a BA in French from California State University at Long Beach, having been awarded membership in Phi Kappa Phi.

She loved children, and children loved her. Despite geographical separation from her four grandchildren, for years she wrote them each a letter every Sunday, always including a different joke for each child. Michele and Don got a letter, too, without the jokes (and one from Stan).

She loved her family fiercely, and they all knew she could be counted on in any situation.

Marilyn’s defining characteristic was her deep, vibrant faith in Jesus Christ as her Lord and Saviour, shown through countless acts of kindness, generosity and love. One of her favorite sayings was, ‘Everyone’s just doing their best.’ Despite the deep tragedies she experienced, she always thanked Jesus for the wonderful life she had.

Marilyn had a deep, vibrant faith in Jesus Christ as her Lord and Saviour, and that faith carried her through the many trials and heartbreaks of her life. She finished her life well, inspiring and encouraging others right to the end.

Marilyn was preceded in death by her parents (1942 and 1951), daughter Judith Bardin (1986) and son-in-law Benoit Bardin (1988), and husband Stan (2010), great-grandson Elias Beau (2016), sisters Gwen Youngblood, Wynne Nobiensky, Bev Everson and brother Ron Scobie.

She is survived by daughter Michele Morrison, son-in-law Don Morrison, grandchildren Mhairi, Jamie (Chrisie), Robbie (Emma), Douglas (Joey), of Scotland and Australia, great-grandchildren Felicity, Greg, Callan, Ella, Joel, Eliott, Ava, Gabriel and Joni; brother Bill Scobie, many nephews and nieces.

In lieu of flowers, gifts may be given in her memory to your favorite charity.