Marilyn Moss, 93, of Monticello, Indiana, died at 5:50 p.m. on Tuesday, March 3, 2026, in her room at the Legacy Unit of White Oak Health Campus of Monticello, Indiana.

Marilyn was born on Saturday, July 9, 1932, in Spencer, Indiana in Owen County, to William G. and Marie (Million) Moss. They both have preceded her in death.

She was a descendant of early settlers of Indiana. Her mother's Million-Timmons ancestry included pioneers of Carroll and White counties. Marilyn was the great-granddaughter of Robert and Lavina Million, and she was designated by the historical society in 2005 as a member of a First Family living in Carroll County between 1824-1855. The Million-Pearson reunion was active 100 years.

Her paternal ancestor, Aquilla Moss, 1790-1864, helped settle Greene County. Marilyn and other "Hoosier Founders" were recognized in 1992 at a State House ceremony by then Lt. Gov. Frank O'Bannon observing the 175 anniversaries of Indiana statehood.

Marilyn attended West Lafayette and Monticello high schools and was a journalism graduate of Indiana University. She was a member of Delta Zeta Sorority and sang in the I.U. Women's Chorus, which merged with the Singing Hoosiers. Music was a big part of her life, evolving from family piano musicales. When she was 9, she sang "God Bless America" at her first notable performance-a Spencer Democratic rally in the school gymnasium!

An early thrill was joining her mother as a member of Al Stewart's 1,000- voice chorus that sang on the grounds of the Capitol Building in Washington D.C. to celebrate the nation's Sesquicentennial in 1950. They also sang with the chorus at the Canadian National Exhibition in

Later, she was an invited soloist at three Indiana O.E.S. Grand Assemblies, performing on the historic Murat stage of the National Centre in Indianapolis. She sang the national anthem at the dedication of the White County Building in 1976 and produced the dedication keepsake book distributed at the ceremony. In 1986 she was a member of the executive committee of the Mid-North Indiana John Wesley White Crusade which drew thousands of people during a week-long revival in Monticello.

For a change of pace, Marilyn donned appropriate attire and a make-up beard to portray keynote speaker Andrew Carnegie at ground-breaking ceremonies for the current Monticello-Union Twp. Library. She sang the national anthem at the dedication of the new structure in 1992.

Her volunteer work brought a singular honor in 1996 when she was named a torchbearer for the 100" anniversary of the modern Olympic Games. She carried the torch through the streets of Lafayette as part of its journey from Olympia, Greece to Atlanta City. Having served twelve years on the board of the Monticello-Union Twp. Library,

Marilyn's writing career began at the Monticello Herald-Journal, before moving to Indianapolis for a job in public relations. During the early days of television, she accepted a publicity-promotion position with TV Guide Magazine at its national headquarters in suburban Philadelphia. While serving as assistant national publicity manager, she won a layout and design award from the American Assoc. of Industrial Editors and New York University.

On returning to Indiana to join the Lafayette Journal-Courier as copy editor and columnist, Marilyn received the prestigious National Headliner Award presented by the Atlantic City Press Club.

Her work also was judged best of the 1968 award-winning columnists. She was listed in the 1970 volumes of Who's Who of American Women and in Foremost Women in Communications.

A member of Theta Sigma Phi, the national journalism honorary, she was founder and charter president of the Lafayette professional chapter. It celebrated its 25" anniversary in 1996 and now is a part of the renamed National Association of Women in Communications.

A life-long Presbyterian, Marilyn sang most of her life in a church choir. She was elected a Monticello Presbyterian deacon in the first class to accept women in the mid-1970's and served ten years as church elder and three years as clerk of session and she was elected a Presbytery commissioner to the tri-state Lincoln Trails Synod Assembly.

She was a director of the Purdue Employees Federal Credit Union in Lafayette 1995-97 and earlier served three years on the board of directors of the TV Guide Federal Credit Union in suburban Philadelphia. She was a 70-plus member of Crystal Chapter #165, O.E.S., serving as 1979 worthy matron and 1980 district 17 deputy.

Marilyn was a president of the Wednesday Reading Club, a ten-year interviewer and board secretary of the White Co. Food Pantry, a 12-year director of the Monticello-Union Twp. Library and served on boards of Literacy Volunteers and Contact Help, all in Monticello.

She is preceded in death by her parents, her brother Mr. and Mrs. Billy
M. Moss, her niece Tracy Moss, and her nephew Craig Moss.

Survivors are her nephew Philip Moss (wife Patty) nieces Catherine Brodhead
(husband Randy) and Melinda Moss; grand nephew and nieces Sean Moss (wife Rachel),
Erin Jones (husband Ian), Ryan Moss (wife Gillen) and Spencer Brodhead; and great
grandnieces Victoria Moss, Isabella Moss, and Zoey Jones.

A gathering of family and friends will be held from 11:00 a.m. until the time of services at 1:00 p.m.  on Friday, March 13, 2026, at the Monticello Presbyterian Church of 104 N. Illinois St, Monticello, Indiana 47960. With a prayer circle conducted by the elders of the Monticello Presbyterian Church at 10:45 a.m.

An OES (Order of Eastern Star) Memorial service will be conducted by the Crystal Chapter #165 of Monticello, Indiana on Friday, March 13, 2026, at 1:00 p.m. followed by the Funeral Rites of the Monticello Presbyterian Church with Pastor Stephen Quinlan officiating.

Burial will follow at the Hickory Grove Cemetery of rural Delphi, Indiana.

Memorial contributions may be given to the Monticello Presbyterian Church of Monticello, Indiana. Envelopes will be available at the church or can be mailed to 104 N. Illinois St. Monticello, IN 47960 C/O Marilyn Moss.

Deibels Funeral Home is honored and blessed to be assisting the family messages of condolences may be made online at www.deibelsfh.com