Marilyn Joyce Finley

Marilyn Jordan Finley, 86 years old, passed away peacefully on Thursday, August 22nd at Northcare Hospice in North Kansas City, MO. 

Marilyn was born in Neodesha, Kansas and spent most of her life in the Kansas City area where she met the love of her life, Don Finley and raised her two daughters, Marēssa and Erica while having a long-term, successful and well-respected career of 41 and a half years at TV Guide magazine.

Marilyn loved Tom Selleck, Snoopy, bourbon and Sprite at 5pm, riding in a convertible, planning for others, helping others, thinking of others and doing a LOT of things for others….including holding on to things “in case” someone needed them.

Marilyn survived breast cancer three times and a serious automobile accident.

Marilyn was preceded in death by her mother and father, Eula and Edwin Jordan, her sisters, Phyllis Jeffcott, Shirley Jordan and Joann Linder. Marilyn’s husband of 56 years, Don, passed away in 2017.

Marilyn also leaves behind: her daughters Marēssa Finley-Sinclair and Erica (Kathi) Finley, her grandson, Parker Sinclair, step-grandson Thomas Creach, nephew Jordan Jeffcott, nieces Jenni Jeffcott, Weslea Rose Finley and Mailea Finley, her sweet cousins, Viola Kauth and Duane Anderson, other cousins, great nieces and nephews, great-great nieces and nephews, her beloved sister-in-law Shawn Finley and many other special family members, life-long friends and her grand-dog Charlie, all whom loved Marilyn and will miss her greatly. 

Visitation will be held Friday, August 30, 2024, at 11:45am at Loran Fawcett Chapel in Neodesha, KS followed by a 1pm graveside service at the Neodesha Cemetery. A celebration of life will be held in Kansas City at a later date. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to your favorite charity related to animals, cancer or Alzheimer’s. Stories about Marilyn are encouraged to be shared during the visitation.