Marilyn was born July 15, 1945, in Juneau to Evelyn and Max Rogers. She was salutatorian or Marysville High School in 1963, and went on to complete degrees with honors from the University of Washington and Western Washington University, where she received a Master of Arts in Education. Her professional career in teaching began with teaching health care for the Red Cross in Malawi and continued lifelong as a ski instructor at Stevens Pass, where she co-directed the ski school in the early 1970s. She was a Lake Washington High School professor through the 1980s and at Lakeside Middle School as the Learning Resources coordinator from 1993 to the present, instilling a love of learning in her students and those around her.

Marilyn married her high school sweetheart, Whit Hammond, in 1973. They moved to Homer in 1977 where Whit commercial fished on the Cape Chacon and Marilyn taught at Homer Middle School, and where they began their family. They had two beautiful children, Whit and Kristin, through whom their enthusiasm for life continues. Her husband preceded her in death in 1978. Marilyn continued to teach in Homer until 1981, when she returned to Puget Sound, Wash.

Her family said, "Marilyn lived each day to its fullest, sharing her love in many forms: rowing with Martha's Moms, skiing with family and students, learning, gourmet cooking with friends and empowering others to realize their strengths. She died as she lived, peacefully and with deep love and gratitude for her life and the people therein."

She is survived by her children, Whit and Kristin Hammond; her brother and sister, Dave Rogers and Susan Berg; parents-in-law Charles and Margaret Hammond; brothers-in-law Curtis and Craig Hammond, Bruce Berg and Allan Taylor; sisters-in-law Gretchen Taylor, Maureen and Sheila Hammond, Duanne Rogers; and held in loving memory by all those whose lives she touched.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to North Cascades Institute (ncascades.org) or Row for the Cure (komen.org). Please send memories in all forms to be compiled for her children to Tribute to Marilyn, 1960 Shenandoah Dr., E. Seattle 98112.