AURORA, Colo. — Marian Eagle,
79, passed away peacefully on October 4, 2023. She was born to Robert and Edna (Harwood) Yingling in San Antonio, Texas, on December 7, 1943.
Marian graduated valedictorian of her Sylvan Hills High School, Sherwood, Ark. Her mathematics B.A. degree was received from Harding University, Searcy, Ark. An M.S. degree in mathematics was earned at Arkansas State University, Jonesboro, Ark., where she was also taught as a Graduate Assistant. She pursued doctoral studies in mathematics at the University of Missouri, Columbia, Mo., where she taught as a Graduate Assistant. While she had a B.A. minor in English, her teaching certificates included chemistry and computer science.
A lifetime of mathematics teaching began at Bald Knob, Ark., Public Schools. Next at the University of Arkansas, Little Rock, Ark. Shawnee Mission Kansas schools teaching included Meadowbrook Junior High School, Johnson County Community College and SM West High School. Cairo American College, Cairo, Egypt, teaching came next in her career. She would tell you the highlight of her career was teaching AP Calculus at Marian High School, Bloomfield Hills, Mich., while living in Birmingham, Mich., for 11 years. Her final teaching position was at the Northwest Arkansas Community College, Bentonville, Ark., while living in Bella Vista, Ark., for 19 years. Marian also worked as an actuarial analyst and computer programmer for a period of time when not teaching.
Her many interests included her grandchildren, extensive traveling, avid reading, participating in book clubs, gardening, playing bridge and other card and board games. Marian was an accomplished seamstress with knitting and crocheting skills. Altrusa International of Bentonville/Bella Vista, Ark., was an organization she enjoyed involvement in support of fund raising efforts for the benefit of local schools. Making masks for Gravette school students during the Covid-19 crisis was a joyful activity.
Her foreign travel highlights were Egypt, Russia, China, Norway and Cuba. Other extensive travel included many European, Asian, and Caribbean Island countries.
Following retirement in Michigan, a five-year life of travel in a fifth wheel RV included traveling to and seeing all 50 states, all Canadian provinces and territories, along with many Mexican towns, before settling down in Bella Vista, leaving in May, 2023. Many National Parks were seen and travel highlights were seeing polar bears in Barrow, Alaska, spending a month on the island of Newfoundland, seeing Hopewell Rocks and riding a mule down into the Grand Canyon.
Preceding her in death include her parents; brother, Lloyd; husband, Thomas Edwards; and aunts and uncles.
Surviving include her stepmother, Maxine Yingling, Conway, Ark.; husband, John, Aurora, Colo.; sister, Joyce Yingling, Granbury, Texas; daughter, Margaret Guthrie, Olathe, Kan.; son, Ray Medlock (Laura), Lenexa, Kan.; daughter, Leslie Edwards (Larry Dorr), Breckenridge,, Colo.. Also surviving include stepchildren, Jay Eagle (Grace), San Antonio, Texas, Elizabeth Schulze, Canon City, Colo., and Cynthia Vander Pol (Russ), Aurora, Colo.; and 11 grandchildren.
No services are currently being planned. She was a member of the Presbyterian Church of Bella Vista. Should you wish to remember her life through a donation, a charity of your choice would be welcomed.
Her favorite charities were the Bella Vista Animal Shelter, Library and Courtesy Van. Other charities she favored include The Salvation Army, Doctors Without Borders and Habitat for Humanity.