MARLYS BORDELEAU TOKERUD
1939-2016
Marlys Bordeleau Tokerud, 76, of Houston Texas, passed away peacefully in her home on Thursday, June 23, 2016. Marlys was born in Great Falls, Montana. She was preceded in death by her father Alfred Bordeleau, a modernist architect, and her mother, Ruth Peters
Bordeleau, a high school English teacher.
Marlys married Bob Tokerud in 1957. They moved to Houston in 1965. By the time she was 27, Marlys’ family grew to 6 children. It took fortitude and patience to rear 6 children and then it took courage and perseverance to acquire the education and credentials that allowed her
to become a renowned interior designer and successful business woman.
In 1991, she started her own business, Tokerud and Co. Throughout her career Marlys was published numerous times and received countless awards and recognitions. Among them 2002 Innovators of Design, Sub Zero/ Wolf Kitchen Design awards, ASID recognitions, and most
recently 2014 Leaders in Design. She was on Design Council for MFAH and a board member on the Decorative Arts Committee, as well as being active in Rice Design Alliance and ASID.
Marlys’ warmth and generosity are reflected in the loving relationships she maintained with her children and grandchildren who in turn became loving parents and partners to families of their own. Her deep regard for art and beautiful workmanship encouraged and employed
numerous artists, craftsmen and women. Marlys had a wide circle of friends to whom she was loyal for decades, and for those lucky enough to travel with her, she was an intrepid and unflappable companion always ready to try something new. Her delight in visiting other cultures
was contagious. In 1998, Marlys fell in love with Marfa, Texas and created a “compound” that has hosted family and friends for many years.
Always thinking of the future, Marlys laid the groundwork for her designers, Courtney Blair and Lindsay C. Robinson and her daughter Torri Breeding to carry forth her beloved dream of bringing quality, innovative interior design to new generations of Houstonians.
Marlys is survived by her partner, John “Rick” Houser; an accomplished master custom millworker who was her steadfast supporter; her sister Gayle Richardson from Spokane, WA; her brothers Denis Bordeleau from Lincoln, MT and Jacques Bordeleau from Haley, ID; and half-brother Gerald Jaehnel from Des Moines, IA. Marlys is also survived by her six children; Pamela Tokerud (Bruce Schuett) of Wichita, KS; Torri Breeding of Houston; TX, Marc Tokerud (Kathy) of Garland, TX; Camille Tokerud of Brooklyn, NY; Corinne Tokerud (Cindy Erickson) of
Seattle, WA; and David Tokerud of Irving, TX. She was blessed with11 grandchildren; Ross Breeding, Clayton Breeding, Kegan Tokerud, Hilary Breeding, Pierce Tokerud, Marissa Schuett, Taylor Tokerud, Katarina Schuett, Cole Kitchen, Jasper Kitchen and Kramer Tokerud and three great grandchildren Layla Tokerud, Caleb Breeding, and Kinley Breeding.
In lieu of customary remembrances, please donate in memory of Marlys to any of the following places near and dear to her, The Museum of Fine Arts Houston – Glassel, 1001 Bissonnet Street, Houston, Texas, 77005, the Chianti Foundation, 1 Cavalry Row, Marfa, Texas, 79843, or Audubon Texas, 2904 Swiss Avenue, Dallas, Texas, 75204.
A memorial service is being held by immediate family members and a few dear friends, followed by a Celebration of Life at The Asia Society Texas Center, 1370 Southmore Boulevard, Houston, TX 77004, on June 30th, from six o’clock until nine o’clock in the evening.