Marilyn Yvonne Tow, age 86, passed away on June 12, 2023, at her home in Indianapolis, surrounded by loved ones.
She was born on January 23, 1937, in Camden, Ohio to James H. and Stella Marie (Lane) Cornett. They moved to Shoals when she was 14 years old, and she graduated from Shoals High School in 1954. She married Wilson L. Tow on June 11, 1954.
She was a member of Shoals Christian Church and Kingsway Christian Church in Avon, Indiana. She loved people and was active in many social activities including cheerleading at SHS, Tri Kappa, Girl Scouts, Cub Scouts, Ben Davis High School Band Boosters, Law Wives, square dancing. She was a great cook and loved cooking for friends and family. She and Wilson loved home projects and their Prince’s Lake second home where they spent much time enjoying their children, grandchildren, friends and family.
Marilyn had a 43-year career as a beautician. She worked at Ethel’s Beauty Salon in Shoals until moving to Indianapolis in 1961. She established Marilyn’s Beauty Shop in her home in 1962 which enabled her to work while she raised her family. Her many long-term customers became close friends and were like family. She retired in 1998.
She is survived by four children, Sheila McCarty (Lynn) of Plainfield, Kendra “Kendee” Kolp (Mark) of Indianapolis, Stephen Tow (Paige) of French Lick and Derek Tow (Cindy) of Indianapolis; ten grandchildren, Regan Severin (Greg) of East Lansing, Michigan, Leigh Ansley (Ben) of Phoenix, Arizona, Sean Kirchheimer (Stephanie) of Phoenix, Arizona, Haley Kolp (Ben Miller) of Houston, Texas, Caroline Mouser (Dalton) of Greenwood, Eric Kolp of Indianapolis, Shelby Lamb (Garrett) of Orleans, Ryan Tow of Bloomington, Stewart Tow and Kennedy Tow of Indianapolis; eight great-grandchildren: William & Henry Severin, Jacqueline & Avery Ansley, Nathan, Noah, Theodore & Stella Marie Kirchheimer; four siblings, Richard Cornett (Margie) of Loogootee, Becky Truelove of Owensboro, Kentucky, Sally Burch of Shoals and Shari Flippins (James) of Santa Claus. She was preceded in death by her parents, husband and five siblings, Betty Lou Cornett, Shirley Harding, James Lane Cornett, Roger Cornett, Randall Scott Cornett.
The family will receive visitors at Queen-Lee Chapel of George Funeral Care, 431 High Street, Shoals on Thursday, June 15 from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. Her funeral will be conducted by Pastor Kenneth Duke on Friday at 11:00 a.m. at Queen-Lee. The burial will be at Spring Hill Cemetery in Shoals.
In lieu of flowers, the family would ask for donations to her favorite charity, Reach For Youth, Inc. in Indianapolis.
