Marilyn Ellison Butts, 87, of Las Vegas, NV formerly of Jefferson City, MO passed away peacefully on Tuesday, February 28, 2023, at her residence.

Marilyn Jeanine Ellison, the only child of Floyd and Roberta (Rowland) Ellison, was born in St. Clair, MO on May 27,1935. She was selected to represent her hometown's Fourth Grade in the 1945 P.T.A. Spring Carnival Popularity Contest.  Marilyn moved to Batesville, AR but graduated in 1953 from Poplar Bluff High School, also in Missouri, and received her Registered Nursing diploma from DePaul Hospital School of Nursing, St. Louis, MO in 1956. She met and married William A. Butts of Decatur, Illinois in 1956. They raised their children in Jefferson City, MO where Marilyn stayed until his death in 1991. Marilyn served her community as a registered nurse for 57 years, principally specializing in psychiatric care in corrections facilities. In 1966, she became one of the first two full-time, female registered nurses ever hired at Missouri State Penitentiary in Jefferson City. For over 15 years, she supervised operating rooms at Charles E. Still Hospital (now Capital Region Medical Center), then returned to nursing in corrections at Clark County Jail after relocating to Las Vegas in 1993 to be closer to her son.

Marilyn was a devoted pet owner who served in 1969 as an officer in the Show Me State Capital Kennel Club and operated her own grooming business out of her home Kev-Kel's Grooming. Marilyn enjoyed sewing, crocheting and knitting, and she loved to travel. Her favorite destinations included Australia, New Zealand and Alaska, home to some of her most memorable fishing expeditions, another passion. Her most treasured adventure was to Guangzhou, China, upon the adoption of her beloved granddaughter.

Marilyn is survived by her son, Kevin Butts, of Las Vegas, NV; her daughter, Kelly Ellison (Gregory Theobald), of Kansas City, MO; her grandchildren: Jonathan Theobald and Maya Grace Theobald, also of Kansas City; extended family includes: Eziquiel Mexia and Sujey Soto and their children, Adonis, Cecely, Nicole, Britney Soto and Kevin, Katrina, Gloria and Sky Victoria Mexia all of Farmington, NM. The family gratefully acknowledges Julie West, Marilyn's devoted personal caregiver for many years, as well as the caregivers and other professionals from Silver Sky at Deer Springs Assisted Living and Compassionate Care Hospice.

Memorial/Interment services will be held on Saturday, February 24, 2024 at 11:00 am at Midlawn Memorial Gardens in Union, MO.  Marilyn's ashes will be interred with her husband and parents.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks you to honor Marilyn with a donation to Best Friends Animal Society (bestfriends.org).