Mrs. Marilyn Reinking of South Carthage, a beloved child of God, now living forever with her Lord Jesus, departed her earthly walk on Friday morning July 10, 2026, six days following her 91st birthday. She was pronounced deceased by Gentiva Hospice of Livingston at 8:30 a.m. at the Smith County Health and Rehabilitation Center in Carthage where she had resided since June 5th.
Mrs. Reinking is at the Carthage Chapel of Sanderson Funeral Home where her funeral services are scheduled to be conducted Saturday afternoon July 18th at 3 p.m. with Bro. Jackie Dawson and Pastor Tom Hilpert will officiate and burial will follow in the Harrison West Cemetery on Martin Hollow Road in the Difficult Community.
The Reinking family will receive relatives and friends only on Saturday July 18th from 1 p.m. until the 3 p.m. services at Sanderson in Carthage.
Mrs. Reinking was born Marilyn Mildred Franz in Cincinnati in Hamilton County, Ohio on July 4, 1935 and was the first-born child of the late Stanley Leon Franz who died September 7, 1997 at the age of 89 and Irma Ida Jutzi Franz who died June 6, 2006 at the age of 93.
For many years she was an only child, often fondly stating she had “wished upon a star” for a sister, not understanding her wish was a prayer. She was 13 when sister, Eileen was born.
She was a graduate of Walnut Hills High School and the University of Cincinnati School of Nursing, becoming a registered nurse and spending many years caring for and loving her patients in nursing homes and psychiatric facilities and also spending part of her career as a nursing instructor.
In 1957 she was united in marriage to Howard Lee Reinking whom preceded her in death on May 13, 2012, a marriage that lasted for fifty years until his 2012 death.
A daughter, Patricia Eileen Burke preceded her in death.
Mrs. Reinking suffered the loss of three children, Mark who died in 1958 and David who died in 1974 and were miscarried and Patty, who died in 2016 as the result of a motorcycle accident.
She also suffered the loss of a grandchild, Daniel Howard Burk to a miscarriage in 1993.
Marilyn was a devout Christian, raising her children in the Lutheran (LCMS) faith and becoming involved in several Christian outreach programs, including Christians United Reaching Everyone (CURE), serving multiple times as their summer camp nurse. Through this program she met George Graham, whom she supported faithfully in his missionary work in Liberia for over fifty years, coming to think of him as a son and brother in Christ. In 2005, she traveled to Africa as part of a Theophostic Prayer Ministry, which fulfilled a desire she’d had since youth of serving in foreign missions. After moving to Carthage in 2009, she continued her evangelistic efforts, forming a group for “Prayer on the Square” and joining in worship with several other churches.
She was a proud American, serving her community as a Girl Scout leader and as an advocate for children and women through the CASA program, the Pregnancy Crisis Center and the Emmanuel House. She could be seen carrying an American flag as she walked in her various communities, often a conversation starter that provided an opportunity to speak about her faith and desire to bring America back to its Christian foundation.
She lived independently until the age of 89, when she moved into long-term care. Marilyn adjusted to her new surroundings, made new acquaintances, maintained her sense of humor, and kept her outgoing personality despite limited mobility in her last years of residence on Earth. She continued to express her faith and always wanted to hear the family sing together when they gathered. Singing was the highlight of her birthday celebrations. She was a beloved child of God and has made her final move to live and sing in his presence forever.
She was the mother of six children, three of whom are surviving, Bonita Johnson and husband Steve of Monticello, Kentucky, Paul Reinking and wife Kimberly and Diane Morris and husband Roger, all of the Difficult Community in Tennessee.
In addition to her remaining children, she is survived by her sister, Eileen Franz of Cincinnati, Ohio; her niece Breanna, 9 grandchildren: William Truett and wife Rachel, Bryant Reinking, Rebekah Cottle and husband Griffin, Brandon Reinking, James Truett and wife Kay, Shelby Gilbert and husband Sean, Rachel Burke, Michael Burke and wife Christine Settembrino, and Anthony Morris; 7 great-grandchildren: Noah, Lorene, Sara, John, Leah, and Emma Truett and Russel Cottle.
Pallbearers: Bill, Jay & Noah Truett, Bryant & Brandon Reinking, Troy Morris
