Marilyn passed away peacefully surrounded by her children on Friday February 11, 2022. She was born in London Ontario Canada. She always said she had a perfect childhood created by her parents, Russell and Jessie McKillop, and her cherished brother Ian.
She was greatly inspired by her maternal grandfather, Duncan Smith MD. and her paternal uncle, Clarence John A. McKillop MD, in her passion for helping others. Her first job was a volunteer nurse’s aide at Victoria Hospital at age 15. Marilyn also had a career in fashion as a model in Toronto. She returned to school and completed a nursing degree at Victoria Hospital in London Ontario and a BSN degree at Western Michigan University in Kalamazoo Michigan.
Marilyn had a passion for helping others and while working in a pediatric center at Bronson Methodist Hospital began her career in health education by shaping their first diabetes education program. She was a pioneer in health education and helped to develop the first curriculum for diabetes education in the state of Michigan. She created unique education programs for children, which included Pigs are Precious and Dolly the Diabetic Dachshund for health fairs in the community. She managed the education program for both adolescent and adult patients at Bronson Methodist Hospital, until her retirement in 1989.
In 1953, she married Dr. J. Donald Hare in Chatham, Ontario and once again in 1989 to Dr. Frederick Clement Glenn Michigan on Lake Temagami, Ontario.
After retirement, she traveled with her husband, Frederick Clement MD., to Kenya, spending six months in 1990-91, where they volunteered at the local hospital Tumutumu Presbyterian Church of Ease Africa (PCEA) Hospital.
Marilyn was not only a wife, mother, a grandmother and a very good nurse. She had many passions; good books, beautiful clothes, antiques, gardens, walks in the woods, and the Great Lakes. She appreciated her Scottish heritage and her dogs most of all. She loved a party with good jazz, her dear friends and family. She hosted many memorable family gatherings at her home on Lake Michigan.
Marilyn’s warm, engaging personality will be greatly missed. She knew how to light up a room with a beautiful dress, quick wit and was never at a loss to share a good story.
Marilyn will be deeply missed by her children, Duncan Hare (Belynda) of Plano, Texas, Jessica Hare (Shelley) of Glen Gardner, New Jersey, and Victoria Kennedy (Howard) Boulder, Colorado. She will be greatly missed by her granddaughters, Amanda Hare, Christina Hare and Sophie Kennedy; and by her niece Christena McKillop (Michael) and nephew Dougald McKillop (Susan) and host of other loving family and friends.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Dr. Frederick L. Clement; her parents, Russell Elmore and Jessie Lenore (Smith) McKillop; and her dear brother, Ian Duncan McKillop.
In lieu of flowers, donations could be made to American Diabetes Association, www.diabetes.org or Al Van Humane Society 73303 8th Ave., South Haven Michigan 49090, www.al-van.org