Marynelle Kiger's Obituary
Marynelle Kiger, cherished mother, sister, daughter, wife, and friend, passed away peacefully on March 2nd, 2022, just one day after her 88th birthday. Born in Spiro, Oklahoma, to Edwin Thomas and Lillian Watkins on March 1st, 1934, Marynelle’s first love was the piano, training at Saint Anne’s Catholic Church and filling her home with the great works of Gershwin and Debussy throughout her life. After high school, she received both a Bachelor’s and a Master’s degree from Northeastern State University; from there, she went on to become a dedicated public school teacher in Tahlequah, Vian, Catoosa, Collinsville and Moore. A homecoming queen twice over (at both Spiro High and NSU), Marynelle was a proud member of Tri Sigma sorority and later joined the American Association of University Women.
Those outside her family may not know that she was an avid sports buff, often recalling NFL and NBA trivia that her husband, a former football coach, never knew. Her love of and respect for athletics came in handy later in life, as she became both a knowledgeable and quite passionate fan of all her grandchildren’s athletic endeavors, travelling far and wide to cheer on their football, dance, basketball, and swimming exploits.
No matter where she was living, Marynelle had a way of making everyone feel they were special to her, and her conscientiousness toward not just the important people in her friends’ lives, but those friends’ family and loved ones, made her a truly wonderful conversationalist and lifelong friend to so many. In truth, she valued and celebrated friendships of all types, bringing people together from different generations and geographies without a second thought; lunches, long phone calls, and book clubs were true and constant joys throughout her life.
Above all, Marynelle loved her family: her beloved late husband, Bennie, her two daughters and son-in-law, Teri (Kiger) Aulph and Philip and Robyn (Kiger) Pirovitz, her four grandchildren, Sarah (Pirovitz) and Alex Humphreville, Amanda (Pirovitz) and Greg Winburn, Josh and Karen Walker, and Brady Walker, and seven greatgrandchildren, Raleigh, Zoe, James, Petra, Delaney, Cannon and Hannah . Marynelle’s passing was as beautiful as her life, with the two daughters she so dearly loved by her side. Marynelle was always described by Bennie as the most beautiful woman in the world; it brings us great comfort to know they are now reunited.
We would like to thank the incredible and loving staff at The Villages of Southern Hills and Suncrest Hospice. A memorial service will be held Saturday, April 2, at 2:00 pm, in the Rose Chapel at Floral Haven Funeral Home.
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