Marilyn Rose (Stone) Ward, 46, died Tuesday, July 26, 2011, at Virginia Gay Hospital in Vinton following an extended illness. A celebration of life gathering will be held from 1 to 4 p.m. Saturday, July 30, at Stonebridge Church, 1829 Stoney Point Rd. SW, Cedar Rapids.

Marilyn was born Sept. 18, 1964, in Cedar Rapids, the daughter of James and Rose (Wood) Stone. She graduated from Washington High School in Cedar Rapids with the class of 1983. Marilyn worked as a line supervisor at Rockwell Collins and later worked as a massage therapist.

She loved to spend time with family and friends and especially loved time spent on the water.

She is survived by her son, Joshua (Sarah) Shebek of Palo; her mother, Rose Stone of Marion; her best friend, Rich Ender of Vinton; two sisters, Linda Vickery of Memphis, Tenn., and Bonnie (Ron) Hald of Cedar Rapids; her nephew, Ryan; niece, Sarah, and her two children, Arianna and Logan; and family friend, Mike Ward.

She was preceded in death by her father; and her siblings, Sandy and Mike.