Marilyn Alberta Ong

Marilyn Alberta Likes Ong, originally of Barry, Illinois, then primarily of Phoenix, Arizona, and recently of Fort Worth, Texas, went to be with her Lord on January 16, 2024 at the age of 83 while at home with her family in Fort Worth, Texas. She was a supportive wife to Edwin Ong, loving mother to Rebecca (Matt) Torode, Brent Ong, and Kyla (Jason) Norman, doting grandmother to Ezekiel, Paisley, and Zachary Torode and Elijah Norman, cherished sister to Evelyn Workman, Helen Dopheide, Karen Zanger, Jean Hunter, and Nancy Jones, as well as beloved aunt and invaluable friend.

Marilyn was born on December 22, 1940 in Kinderhook, Illinois to Richard (Bennie) Likes and Alene Eales Likes, both of whom have preceded her in death. She was the second of six daughters who were raised in a farming family with no sons, so she and her sisters knew the value of practicality and hard work. As a child, Marilyn was taught in a one-room schoolhouse, Whittleton School, then attended Barry School through high school. She graduated from Blessing-Rieman College of Nursing of Quincy, Illinois in 1962 (then Blessing Hospital) as an RN and later received her RNA certification. She served as a short-term missionary nurse at Pine Tree Mission on the Navajo Reservation near Gallup, New Mexico, then moved to Phoenix in 1970 where she worked as a Nurse Anesthetist in Labor and Delivery at St. Josephs Hospital. She married Edwin on March 29, 1975 and together they had three children. As her children began school, she became an aide in the Creighton School District where her husband taught and her children attended. She was a member of First Chinese Baptist Church of Phoenix, North Phoenix Baptist Church, and in recent years, First Baptist Church of Keller.

Marilyn and Edwin's son, Brent Kyle Ong, preceded her in death as a very young child. Marilyn said that, had she not been saved by Christ at age 18 in a camp meeting, his loss would have been unbearable. Marilyn was always ministering to those around her who were in any need. Whether caring for children in her home, teaching children in Sunday School, helping seniors with medical care, or attending to the daily care of friends and family as they journeyed through health difficulties, she was devoted to taking care of others throughout her life.