Elma Marilyn Torrence passed away Thursday, February 8, 2024, at Mercy Hospital in Lebanon, Missouri, surrounded by her loving family. She was born May 8, 1934 to Elmer Perrey and Lillian Sprague Perrey in Lebanon, Missouri. At the time of her passing she was eighty-nine years and nine months of age.
Marilyn, Mom, Mema, or Moom, as she was known to family and friends, graduated from Lebanon and continued her education at Drury University in Springfield, Missouri. She earned her Bachelor’s degree in Education and began her career in teaching.
In 1958, she was united in marriage to Lou Torrence Jr. and to this union, four children were born. She took some time away from teaching as she raised her family and then went back to the classroom as a third grade teacher at Mark Twain Elementary School in Lebanon, Missouri. In addition to her teaching career she supported her husband Lou who owned the local IGA grocery store for over 30 years, and during that time they made many personal and business relationships.
Marilyn was a devoted Catholic and a parishioner of St. Francis de Sales Catholic Church in Lebanon where she participated and served on the church’s Scholarship Foundation. She was an active fundraiser for the American Cancer Society and for years served avidly on the Lebanon High School Reunion Planning Committee; Both organizations that she felt a duty and love for.
Marilyn always had a competitive spirit and a twinkle in her eye at the mention of golf or a game of cards. She spent hours at the kitchen table with her children and grandchildren playing games. As she strongly disliked cold Missouri Winters, she traveled to Florida at those times where family and friends joined her for activities and fun at the beach.
She was always thoughtful and sent cards to family and friends for special occasions. She loved her family deeply and looked forward to spending time with them. Her grandchildren and great grandchildren were her pride and joy and times spent with them were always anticipated and treasured. She is survived by her daughter, Catherine Nedelka and her husband Steve of Libertyville, Illinois; two sons, Lou Torrence III of Kaiser, Missouri and Perrey Torrence and his wife Dionne of Camdenton, Missouri; seven grandchildren, Jennifer, Andrea, Joe, Haley, Kylie, Davis and Logan; five great grandchildren, Maddie, McKenna, JB, Mikah and Titus and many nieces, nephews and friends. Marilyn is preceded in death by her husband Lou Torrence Jr.; her son, Mike Torrence; her grandson, Jamie; her daughter-in-law, Rose; and her brothers, John Perrey and Dwight “Bud” Perrey.
Words cannot adequately express the impact she has had on the lives of her family and so many others. Her fingerprints are on us, and her arms are around us even now. We can only hope to live up to what she saw in us.
Services for Marilyn Torrence will be Saturday, February 17, 2024 at 11 a.m. at St. Francis de Sales Catholic Church in Lebanon, Missouri. Visitation will be Friday, February 16, 2024 from 4:00 to 6:00 PM at Holman Howe Funeral Home in Lebanon, MO. Burial will be in Lebanon Cemetery.
A memorial has been established to St. Francis de Sales Catholic Church or to the American Cancer Society and donations may be left at Holman Howe Funeral Home.
Arrangements are under the direction of Holman-Howe Funeral Home of Lebanon.
For more information or to visit the website go to www.holmanhowe.com.
