Marilyn was born in Brownsville, Tennessee to parents Earl Clindon Scott and Vollie Jean (Young) Scott. Her first marriage to Robert Franklin Canada ended in divorce and her second husband, Robert Edward (Bobby) Powell preceded her in death.  Marilyn was the second of five children: Amos Earl Scott (Linda Faye Shands), Marilyn Joyce Scott (Bobby Powell), Jesse Lee Scott (Beth Anne Braun), Dianna Scott (Bill Eyerly) and Remona Gail Scott (Lee Ann Smith).  Marilyn grew up in Crockett County and attended Maury City High School.  She was a member of the French Club and excelled in the cooking portion of Home Economics.

She attended business school in Jackson, TN and was proficient in shorthand dictation. She had a successful career in the business world, including working at the UT Medical Center and serving as the office manager for three prominent pulmonologists in Memphis. Later in life, she was a popular and well-loved supervisor at the Horseshoe Casino in Tunica.

More notably than any of her professional successes, however, was her devotion to family. She was a beloved Mother, Aunt, & Maw-Maw to three generations of children, including grandkids, and great-grandkids who thought she hung the moon.  She always had time for games, art, and fun activities to share with them. Additionally, she was a beloved older sister to three younger siblings.

Marilyn was an excellent cook and made many amazing meals for family and friends. She had an enormous collection of cookbooks which she would read like novels. She loved to read and write poetry as well. She was a genuinely happy person and she was generous beyond measure.

Marilyn passed away peacefully on September 5 ^th , 2020 in Tulsa Oklahoma from metastatic lung cancer and will forever live in the memories of her family and friends. She is survived by her son Michael Canada; stepdaughter Cindy Powell; stepson Quit Powell; grandchildren Sarah Carrasco, Michael Canada Jr., Keenon Canada, Claire Flurry, Jessica Flurry, Alex Powell (Ashley Moore), Domenick Carlini  (Lauren Carson), Laila Powell; great grandchildren Gabriela Carrasco, Hayden Carrasco, Aaron Carrasco, Meika Dodge, Robbie Powell, Maverick Powell, Ridley Anne Carlini, her siblings as noted above and beloved nieces and nephews.