Marilyn Bryant Gleaton established her heavenly residence on September 2, 2022, while surrounded by family, friends, and Rod Stewart tunes, at her home after a five-month battle with cancer. She joins her father, Norwood Bryant Sr.; mother, Shirley Bryant; infant brother, Spencer Bryant; niece, Cassie Bryant; and a beloved Westie, Misty; who all preceded her in death. She is survived by her husband, Eric; daughter, Maggie Hereford; stepson, Wesley  Gleaton(Mejia); Schnauzer, Marlee; grand-dog, Maisy;  brother, Norwood Bryant Jr.; sisters, Andrea Glasscock and Kimberly Seaman (Trey); stepmother, Karla Bryant  and many cousins and cherished friends.

Originally of Bayou-la-Batre, Alabama; Marilyn earned a nursing degree from College of the Keys in Key West, FL, before moving to Pensacola, FL where she continued a nursing career that would span over four decades. After beginning in pediatric nursing, she worked in cardiac intensive care, home health, and administration, with stints as a school and summer camp nurse as well. Before a well-deserved retirement, she served as the Executive Director of Emerald Coast Hospice. Throughout her career, she earned numerous awards and was held in the highest esteem by her colleagues and employees.

In young adulthood, she enjoyed adventure sports including scuba, windsurfing, sailing, and skydiving; completing over 500 jumps, and was a proud member of the Captain Tony's softball team in Key West. She was a lifelong avid snow-skier, flutist, seamstress, and divine chef and baker. Marilyn also enjoyed boating, traveling with her family and friends, Pilates classes, and drinking champagne or James Bond martinis.

The most devoted and proud mother, Marilyn referred to her daughter, Maggie, as her "apple with wider wings." She served as the PTA President at both AK Suter Elementary and Brown-Barge Middle School and was awarded the Escambia County Volunteer of the Year for the 1997-1998 school year. She is remembered as being a "second mom" to many, making the best Halloween costumes, and hosting the greatest birthday parties. She encouraged her daughter to constantly strive for excellence, to try new things, and was a pillar of support, confidence, and unconditional love from childhood through adulthood.

Additionally, Marilyn was a member of the Pensacola Five Flags Rotary Club, Krewe du Ya Ya's, and Impact 100. She loved supporting additional local organizations and causes alongside her husband, Eric, and friends as well. She flew as a Guardian in 2008 on the Emerald Coast Honor Flight for WWII Veterans. In 2013, she beat breast cancer and became a devoted advocate for awareness while counseling friends, family, and strangers through their diagnoses and treatment. Marilyn & Eric purchased Warrington Hardware & Marine in 2019 and she revitalized the store into a thriving local business as owner and boss until her recent cancer diagnosis.  She and Eric also enjoyed relaxing at their river home in Camden.

She is remembered as a beloved wife, mother, sister, and friend, and for her intelligence, beauty inside and out, and admirable leadership. Her kindness and thoughtfulness was unyielding while her fun and quirky sense of humor brought a smile to her own face as well as anyone's in her presence. Marilyn was fearless, fun, and a fighter for anything and anyone she believed in. The family would like to extend a special thanks to Cheryl Gleason, Emerald Coast Hospice, and NurseSpring for their care & kindness in her final days.

Per her wishes, there will not be a funeral or memorial, but rather a celebration of life at a later date.  Memorial gifts may be made in Marilyn's name to Emerald Coast Hospice, Making Strides Against Breast Cancer, or a cancer research organization of your choice.