Sheila Kathryn (Warren) Marler was born November 17, 1939, and went to her heavenly home on November 18, 2025, at the age of 86 years and 6 hours.
Sheila was born in Grant City, Missouri to Edward (Bud) and Magnolia (Nolie) Warren. She attended school in Grant City until marrying Ronnie Wallace on January 21, 1956. Sheila later received her GED and took some secondary education classes. Sheila and Ronnie settled on a farm south of Worth, Missouri where they welcomed three daughters, Kathy Ann, Becky Sue, and Diana Lynn. The girls have always been Sheila’s pride and joy. Sheila was baptized in the Christian Church at the age of 8. After marrying, she became a member of the Worth Baptist Church. She was a song leader, Sunday School teacher, vacation bible schoolteacher, sang specials and WMU. Sheila had a beautiful voice. She also had a talent in the kitchen. Known for her cooking, baking, and decorating abilities, countless nights after everyone else was in bed, you could find her in the kitchen baking and decorating a cake for either a birthday, shower, wedding, or other special occasion. Sheila was a member of the Toastmistress Club, BPW, Lions Club, Bridge Club, and an Albany bowling league. When Diana started kindergarten, Sheila went to work at the Albany Regional Center in Albany as a PARA. She dedicated 43 years to physically and mentally challenged children and adults in various capacities. After Sheila and Ronnie divorced, Sheila and Diana moved to Gentry and a few months later to Albany. Sheila became an in-home caretaker for handicapped and elderly citizens. She was a compassionate and very loving person that treated everyone like family.
Sheila became a grandmother in 1977, and her joy continued until the eighth grandchild was born exactly 10 years later to the day. She was a doating grandmother and loved having her girls and their families together for dinners, holidays and special occasions. Becoming a great grandma in 1996 put her over the moon and when the twenty eighth was born in 2018, she said “the greats were even more precious!” Spending time with her great grandchildren was the highlight of her week and you could be guaranteed she showed off the pictures. The first great-great grandchild was born February 2022. Sheila took a trip to Colorado to meet her newest blessing and got a five-generation picture. There are five great-greats now and unfortunately, she was only able to meet two in person but enjoyed getting pictures and Facetime calls.
In 2012, Sheila received a call that would change the rest of her life when an old classmate named Jerry Marler invited her to dinner. Jerry told the girls that he knew that night that he would marry Sheila, the love of his life, and a few weeks later, on April 21, 2012, he did. Sheila and Jerry lived in Mount Ayr, Iowa and Sheila immediately embraced her new community. They were active members of the First Christian Church in Mount Ayr. Sheila played bridge and was in P.E.O. where she served as President. Fun for Sheila and Jerry was taking a drive to grab a meal and then go to the lake to sit and listen to the radio. They also enjoyed driving the Cadillac convertible in parades or just cruising around town. But their greatest pleasure was time spent with their girls and their families, going to birthday parties and events. Sheila said her years with Jerry were the best of her life and when Jerry passed away on June 4, 2022, her heart shattered.
Sheila continued to take weekend trips and day adventures with her girls until her health deteriorated and in May 2024, she moved to St Joseph, Missouri to assisted living at Benedictine Community Living. Sheila quickly made friends, rustled up a card game, or entertained in her apartment. Sheila was known as a friendly, loving mother and grandmother. Her grands and greats remember her as loving, fun, always up for cards or sequence, who always had soda, chips, ice cream, and M & M’s.
Sheila was preceded in death by her parents; husband Jerry Marler; brother Ronnie Warren; sister Sherry Carter; brother-in-law Walter Skinner; and son-in-law Jack Fine.
She is survived by her girls Kathy (Jim) Ray of St Joseph, MO, Becky Fine and Diana (John) Smith, both of Albany, MO, sister Teckla (Jim) Willumson of St Joseph, MO; brother Tom (Megan) Warren of Atchison, KS; grandchildren Jeremy (Rhapsody) Ray of Pleasant Hills, PA, Jamie (Shawn) King of Jefferson City, MO, Cheris (Jeremy) Campbell of Grand Junction, CO, Tyson (Krystin) Smith of Iberia, MO, Josh (Jenn) Ray of St Joseph, MO, Lance (Jennifer) Cisler of Kansas City, MO, Chelsie Cisler of Excelsior Springs, MO, and Ambrie (Travis) Hitch of Gower, MO; 28 great grandchildren and 5 great-great grandchildren; special adopted granddaughter Jade Thornsberry; several nieces and nephews and a host of dear friends who will miss her greatly.
Memorials are to Benedictine Community Living Activities in St Joseph, MO.
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