Marilene Alford

Marilene Alford (nee Workman) is happy to be pain free and reunited with her greatest love, Dan, in heaven.

Born in Lawrence on February 2, 1936, Marilene graduated in the first class in the new Lawrence High School in 1954.  In 1957 she graduated from St. Luke’s School of Nursing and served as a Registered Nurse on and off for the next 55 years.  Her adventures with Dan throughout the years took them from Kansas to Missouri, to Ames, Iowa, and to a mission in New Mexico before settling back in northeast Kansas to be near family.

An avid sports fan, Marilene loved watching the Chiefs, Jayhawks, Cubbies, and Royals.  We are sure she played a role in the Royals’ win on the day she passed.  Marilene never knew a stranger.  Whenever she was out and about, she loved talking to people and asking them questions about who they are and where they are from.  While her family found this embarrassing at times, we know the world needs more of her interest in the stories of others, and we will miss this quality of hers very much.

Marilene is survived by her four children:  Kelly (Dan) Kultala, Dana (Mike) Hess, Judson (Kelly) Alford, and Shawn (Andy) McWhirt.  In addition, she has 11 grandchildren: Taylor, Whitney, Spenser, Abby, Chandler, Jordan, Keegan, Macklan, Jackson, Alex, and Grace; and 11 great-grandchildren.

Marilene is preceded in death by the sexiest man she ever knew, her husband Dan.  Other family having preceded her in death are her parents (Madeline and Troy Workman), her brother, Mick Workman, and her sister Deanna McWilliams (nee Workman).

A private graveside service will be held for the family.  In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations to Just Food in Lawrence.