A Neil Diamond song sums it up in its title “Done Too Soon” and her smile says it all, she loved her family, and she loved life. A Christian at heart, and a Christian in faith, she loved caring for others. because of that, others loved her.

Her husband, Roger Ringle, has loved since they were teenagers, and will always love her. Her children,Tracy, Dana, and Michael speak of her love, her kind caring and her patient teaching. It all came from a beautiful loving heart.

Her grandchildren spent many, many, hours working, playing, and learning from her. Even in her decade working for J.C. Penney Co. she was loved by her coworkers, and bosses.

She was very active in the various churches we attended throughout her adult life. Even after retiring from active church life, she continued sending and receiving cards from elderly people she had befriended over the years.

Approximately 12 years ago she was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s/dementia, I cried, but she smiled and marched onward.
As the years rolled on and she slowly lost ground to this horrible disease, she could still make her family smile and laugh.

Finally last year, as she became hardly able to do anything on her own, with tears in her eyes, she told me she wasn’t ready to die. I told her, I wasn’t ready for her to die either, but Jesus has a plan, and when it became the right time she would join many of our family, and be made whole again. Guess what? she smiled.
This past year was bittersweet. Struggling with the daily routines as she grew weaker, and laughing and sharing many good memories. At this point she seemed to enjoy her goodnight hug, as I transferred her from her wheel chair into bed that she enjoyed most.

What a great person. A true person to model your life after.

Her life, her struggle, is the most compelling reason I can think of to support Alzheimer’s research. Let’s unite to stop this terrible disease from claiming more beautiful souls. Please consider contributing prayers and donations.

Poem
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Thank you Mom,

I know how often I took you for granted when I was growing up.

I always assumed you’d be there and you always were.

But I never really thought about what that meant till I got older and began to realize how often your time and energy were devoted to me.

So now, for all the times I didn’t say it, thank you, Mom.  I love you very much.

Obituary
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Marilyn Kay (Burdick) Ringle left this earth peacefully early in the morning of July 2, 2023, after a lengthy battle with Alzheimer’s disease at the age of 76. She spent the last week of her life in the loving care of family and the staff at HPH Hospice of Spring Hill, Florida.

Marilyn was born at Edward W. Sparrow Hospital in Lansing, Michigan.  She spent the first 12 years of her life in the rural community of Corcoran, just northeast of Lansing.  When her father died, they moved to Lansing so her mother could work and Marilyn and Fred could get a better education.  Marilyn grew up in Lansing and attended Eastern High School where she met Roger. They were married on October 3, 1964, and lived in Lansing, where they had three children. While in Lansing, Marilyn spent the early years of the marriage taking care of the kids and the house. Marilyn was a great mom, cook, housekeeper, and partner. Marilyn took pride in her flower beds of roses and other flowers. In the summer months when Roger would come home for lunch, after eating, Marilyn and Roger would enjoy throwing the frisbee around the backyard for a bit. After the kids were in school all day, Marilyn took a job at the JC Penney store in downtown Lansing, when that store closed, Marilyn chose to move  to the JCP store in the Lansing Mall where she was promoted to merchandising manager in a short time. Marilyn stayed with JCP until the summer of 1983. In the early fall of 1983, the family moved to Marietta, Georgia to start new careers. After a couple of years in Marietta, the family moved to a newly built home in the Woodstock area of Georgia near Allatoona Lake  Marilyn did the majority of the decorating of the new house along with new flower beds. Marilyn was great with flowers and plants and enjoyed gardening. Marilyn was a member of the Acworth Presbyterian Church in Acworth, Georgia and made many friends thanks to her beautiful smile, kindness and sense of humor  In May of 2000, Marilyn and Roger moved to Spring Hill, Florida to get a little further away from the cool Georgia winters, to be closer to her sister Deloris and to start what was supposed to be their last careers.  The career change was short-lived, and Marilyn joined Roger in their new business; Gardenscapes Landscape and Design Install.   Marilyn joined the Garden Club in Spring Hill, and when the club started to build the Nature Coast Botanical Club and Nursery, she was an integral part of installing pavers in the entry area and planting some of the gardens. Marilyn really loved music and was a member of the choir at First Presbyterian Church of Brooksville for many years.

Over the years, Marilyn enjoyed fishing and several times managed to catch the biggest fish while out in the canoe, on the boat or fishing from shore. Marilyn also enjoyed playing cribbage and euchre and often was on the winning team. Marilyn was a baseball fan, and her two favorite teams were the Atlanta Braves and Tampa Bay Rays, while in Michigan, she was also a fan of the Detroit Tigers.

In later years when Marilyn was no longer able to play cribbage due to the effects of Alzheimer’s disease, she did enjoy watching and joking as others played. She still loved music and would sing or hum to the oldies when music was playing.

Marilyn was predeceased by her parents; father – Andrew Loyal Burdick, mother –  Vida Viola Bergan and stepfather Rudolph Bergan Jr. of Lansing, Michigan; her sister – Deloris (Harold) Weaver of Spring Hill, Florida;  brother – Fredrick (Roxanna) Burdick of Angola, Minnesota; father and mother-in-law William “Eli” and Mabel “Babe” Ringle of Lansing, Michigan; brother and sister-in-law Jack and Janet Robinson of Lake Wales, Florida; brother and sister-in-law Dale and Marge Ringle of Lansing, Michigan.

Marilyn is survived by her loving husband and caretaker for the last several years, Roger L. Ringle of Spring Hill, Florida; her “baby” Missy the black lab; children:  Tracy (Randy) Campbell of Lake City, Florida and Higgins Lake area, Michigan; Dana (Jeff) Caison of Denton, North Carolina; Michael (Melissa) Ringle of Grovetown, Georgia.  Grandchildren:  Aaron (Tiffany) Medford of Asheboro, North Carolina; Ashley Medford of Denton, North Carolina; Shelby Ringle of Marietta, Georgia, Alexandria Caison of Knoxville, Tennessee; Ryan Waddell of Savannah, Georgia; Jordan Phillips of Savannah, Georgia; Addison Cox of Grovetown, Georgia; Rylan Cox of Grovetown, Georgia. Great grandchildren:  Jeremiah, Nathaniel, Liam and Mack Medford of Asheboro, North Carolina; Rex and Foxx Wood of Denton, North Carolina. Brother and sister-in-law Glen “Gene” and Doris Ringle. Too many cousins, nieces, and nephews to list in many different cities and states.

A celebration of life will be held at the First Presbyterian Church in Brooksville, Florida on Sunday, July 23, 2023, the church service is at 11 am with the celebration of life and lunch to follow.  Per Marilyn’s wishes, cremation has taken place.

Another celebration will be held in Michigan in late August.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in Marilyn’s name to The Fisher Center for Alzheimer’s Research or St. Jude Children’s Hospital Research Hospital.