Marilyn Kay Crandall, age 75, of Brighton, Iowa, died Monday, May 29, 2017, at the University of Iowa Hospital in Iowa City following a short illness.

In honor of Marilyn, her family is hosting a celebration luncheon from 12:00 p.m. until 3:00 p.m. on Sunday, June 11th at the Brighton City Park Pavilion in Brighton, Iowa. Interment will take place at Sandy Hook Cemetery at a later date. In lieu of flowers, a general memorial has been established to be distributed to various service groups in the community that Marilyn was passionate about. Memorials may be directed to Brian Blodgett at 210 South Ninth Avenue, Washington, Iowa 52353. The Jones & Eden Funeral Home is assisting the family with arrangements. Online condolences may be sent for Marilyn's family through the web at www.jonesfh.com .

Marilyn was born July 27, 1941, in Anamosa, Iowa, the daughter of Ezra E. "Easy" and Mary Josephine (Hanssen) Jones. She attended school in Mt. Pleasant, Iowa, graduating from Mt. Pleasant High School in 1959. Marilyn then attended school in St. Paul, Minnesota, where she received her x-ray and lab technician certificate. At the age of 46, Marilyn enrolled at Iowa Wesleyan College in Mt. Pleasant where she graduated in 1991 with a BSN.

She was married to Harold Blodgett, Harold "Bubs" Hesseltine and Benjamin Crandall. They all preceded her in death.

Marilyn worked at the Washington County Hospital where she was director of the Lab and X-ray department during her tenure. She worked as a nurse for Dr. Wolfe in Richland, Iowa, for many years. Marilyn and her husband "Bubs" operated the Skunk River Lodge for several years. Following her graduation from Iowa Wesleyan, Marilyn worked as a Washington County Public Health Nurse until her retirement.

Marilyn was an active member of the Order of the Eastern Star Brighton Chapter #486 and Wayland Chapter #494 since 1992, and served as secretary for many of those years. She loved her family and enjoyed many travels nationally and internationally, as well as playing BINGO with friends and family.

She is survived by her daughter, Lori Orris and husband Kevin of Washington, Iowa; daughter, Lonna Blodgett of Brighton, Iowa; son Brian Blodgett and wife Michelle of Washington, Iowa; son Jeff Blodgett and Michael Todd of Cedar Rapids, Iowa; son, Michael "Bubs" Hesseltine and wife Jacque of Brighton, Iowa; 12 grandchildren; 11 great grandchildren; sister, Murlee Bohr of Cedar Rapids, Iowa; sister, Debbie Hagerla and husband Albert of Edina, Missouri; brother, Michael Jones and wife Lori of Des Moines, Iowa; and many nieces, nephews and cousins.

She was preceded in death by her parents and three husbands.