Obituary of Marilyn Burrows Chinnis

Marilyn Jean Burrows Chinnis passed away on July 21, 2024, at the age of 95 years of age, in Hillsborough, North Carolina. 

Marilyn is survived by her brother, Frank Robinson Burrows Jr., her daughters Linda Chinnis Jaubert (Pierre) and Cathy Chinnis Allen (Richard) and her grandchildren Brandee Strickland (Pedro), Erica Hauser (Darin), Jennifer Giancola (Benjamin), Sarah Allen, Milton Allen, Seth Allen (Erin), Daniel Chinnis, Matthew Chinnis (Jessica), Ryan Chinnis (Megan), Alec Chinnis, Conner Chinnis and Carley Chinnis, and 8 great-grandchildren.  She was preceded in death by her husband, Roy Daniel Chinnis, her son, Mark Robinson Chinnis, and her parents, Frank Robinson Burrows and Clara Viola Weisheit Burrows. 

Marilyn was born on January 20, 1929 in Warren, Ohio and spent her childhood there.  At 18 years of age, she became the first woman in her family to attend and later graduate from Hiram College in 1951, majoring in sociology.  She married her fellow student, Roy Daniel Chinnis, and they welcomed their first daughter and son into the world in Warren, Ohio before moving to Toledo, Ohio in 1956, where their youngest daughter was born.  During their years in Toledo, Marilyn and Dan raised their children and developed their careers, hers in social work and his in law.  They shared a love for dancing, golf and traveling the world, and were active in Mayfair-Plymouth Congregational Church.

Marilyn was active in the Toledo League of Women Voters, and she served as the volunteer secretary for several of the pastors of Mayfair-Plymouth Congregational Church, where she also served several terms as moderator of the church council. She also taught an adult Sunday School class.

Her daughters remember her as a woman who was always there for her family and friends, and she was skilled at maintaining those friendships.  She had friends and family all over the country that she visited, especially during her cross-country trips by car between Hailey, Idaho and Hillsborough, North Carolina, the two places she called home after becoming a widow and then retiring in 1991.  She volunteered at the Blaine County Historical Museum in Hailey, Idaho for over 20 years and was a long-time member of the museum board.  After finally settling in Hillsborough permanently, in the fall of 2018, she transferred her membership from her church home in Toledo and joined the Hillsborough Presbyterian Church in 2019. She was an avid knitter and had a great admiration for cardinals.  Whenever she spotted one, she would say it meant that “God’s in his heaven and all’s right with the world.”

A memorial service for Marilyn is scheduled for Saturday, October 19^th at 11:00 a.m. at the Hillsborough Presbyterian Church.  All are welcome to attend and celebrate Marilyn’s life and a reception will follow the service.  According to Marilyn’s wishes, Memorial donations can be made to the American Cancer Society.