Marilyn Rechene Havens passed away on June 25, 2026, surrounded by her loving family. She was 83 years old. Born on May 3, 1943, to Homer and Mary Lea Baker (Stansell), she lived in Childress, Texas for 76 years, then divided her time among the families of her three children.
Services were held at 10 a.m. Tuesday, June 30, 2026, at Childress Methodist Church with Pastor Lou Ellerbrook and Greg Havins officiating. Burial immediately followed at the Childress Cemetery under the direction of Johnson Funeral Home.
Marilyn graduated from Childress High School (CHS), where she was a twirler and voted Miss CHS in 1961. She married her high school sweetheart, Gerald Havens, in a small, family, ceremony in her parents’ home on Oct. 14, 1961.
Marilyn and Gerald raised three children, Greg, Kimberly and Mindi, whom they viewed as their greatest success. They owned City Parts Co. Inc. for over 40 years. Marilyn also managed K-Bob’s Steakhouse for over 30 years. She was a long-standing member of Childress First United Methodist Church, where she served as United Methodist Women President, was a member of the Pathfinders Sunday School class and helped to organize and serve countless funeral meals.
Throughout her children’s childhoods, she was a Girl Scout leader and the youth director at her church. Marilyn served as treasurer of Childress Meals on Wheels, was volunteer coordinator for Childress Hospice and was honored as Childress Woman of the Year in 2005. In 2016, Marilyn retired from her work and organizations, dividing her time among her children’s homes, where she enjoyed her seven grandchildren and traveling.
Marilyn is preceded in death by her husband, Gerald; her parents; her brother, Donald Baker; and her sister, Donna Cain.
Marilyn is survived by her son, Greg, and his wife, Nora, of Concord, Mass.; daughter Kimberly Proctor and her husband, Kendall, of Springdale, Ark.; and daughter Mindi Wells and her husband, Michael, of Allen, Texas.
Marilyn’s greatest blessing of all was being Meme to Tyler Proctor and his wife, Ellen, of Fayetteville, Ark.; Trevor Proctor and his wife, Tori, of Mountain Home, Ark.; Michael Havens, Liam Havens and Mary Havens, of Concord, Mass.; and Ian Wells and Abbie Wells, of Allen. Her newest blessing was becoming Great Meme to Ellie JoAnn Proctor, of Mountain Home, Ark. She is also survived by her brother-in-law, Wayne Havens, of Lubbock, Texas; her nephews, Brad Havens and Kelly Havens, of Lubbock; her niece, Nicole McGee, of Decatur, Texas; and many cherished friends.
In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to Childress Meals on Wheels, Childress Regional Medical Center Hospice, The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research or the National MS Society.
