MEREDITH — Marilyn Elaine Rushton, 84, of Meredith, went home into the loving arms of her Savior on July 5, 2025. Marilyn was born on Nov. 27, 1940, to Agnes (Nedeau) Pickering and Raymond V. Pickering.
Marilyn was a third generation Meredith girl, born and raised. After high school she completed her certification and worked for the Meredith Public Library for 42 years, retiring in November 2007. Marilyn was an avid reader who loved to read to her children, grandchildren, and the children of Meredith. Even as dementia claimed more of her brain, she continued reading stories aloud. Reading was one of the last skills she lost.
She also attended church in Meredith at First Baptist Church where she was a teen youth group leader with her husband Jim, a first grade Sunday School teacher, and an Awana Cubbies leader. Her faith was her greatest treasure and one she loved to share especially with her family, leading her parents, her husband, her children, and her grandchildren to know and love the Lord. In her later years, Marilyn attended Calvary Bible Church in Meredith where she continued serving with the children and the clothing bank ministries.
Marilyn was married to her loving husband James Asa Rushton on June 27, 1959, for 58 years until his death in December 2017. Together they had two children, Bradley Steven Rushton (who predeceased her in September 2024) and Diana Jean (Rushton) Ladd.
Family was everything to Marilyn. She loved holidays and traditions, family vacations to the ocean, and being Mimi to her grandkids.
Marilyn is survived by her daughter Diana Ladd and her husband Barry Ladd of Meredith; her daughter-in-law Patricia Rushton of Meredith; grandchildren Stephen Rushton and his fiancée Jessica, Kimberly Taggett and her husband Charles, and Craig Ladd and his wife Katelyn. She also has five great-grandchildren, Bailey and Adalyn Taggett, Aubrey and Abigail Rushton, and Asher Ladd.
The family held a private burial at Oakland Cemetery, officiated by one of Marilyn’s favorite pastors and friend Mike Rattin. A celebration of life is planned for 11 a.m. Saturday, July 19, at Calvary Bible Church, 6 St. James St. The family invites all who knew and loved Marilyn to join in this celebration of her life and a light luncheon to follow. If you have a special memory to share or a way Marilyn touched your life we would be honored if you would share it with us.
Arrangements are under the care of Mayhew Funeral Homes and Crematorium. To sign the online book of memories, visit mayhewfuneralhomes.com.
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Lots of fond memories of this wonderful woman in my youth. She loved her God for sure, and I have always been so grateful to have been a witness to her devotion. Blessings to her family.
Diana and all your family, We were sorry to hear of your moms passing and thankful to think of her with the Lord in Heaven. She blessed our lives over the years and Jim too! She was a dear friend to my mom in school. She was a sanctuary of sorts and my mom would go to Marilyn’s house often. She was always kind and we would catch up when we would stop in and get books at the library. She blessed our children in the Awana program and furthered our love of Jesus back then. I served with her on a church committee at CBC and she shared her wisdom and insights there. We would often see Jim at the post office in the morning. I think we were on the same schedule in getting our mail. Him was usually bringing mail to the library and I am sure a sweet hello to Marilyn there. We were sorry to see of Brads passing which we had missed seeing until here on Marilyn’s Obituary. May the Lord give you peace and comfort you all in your sadness of missing your Mom at this time. Lovingly, Hilary and Butch Keniston in MD
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