Marilyn Kaye Herigstad, born June 6, 1939 in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, passed away Sunday, December 13, 2020 in Mission Viejo, CA. Marilyn was lovingly known as Katie to her family. Marilyn moved to Los Angeles, California in 1940 with her parents. She grew up in Wilmington, California and graduated from Banning High School and attended Idaho State University.
During her professional career she wore many hats from running a restaurant, an insurance agency, to helping build a city (Mission Viejo).She worked for over 16 years advocating and supporting acute and critical care nurses across the country at the American Association of Critical-Care Nurses.
Marilyn's greatest love was traveling, she especially loved Paris and the sidewalk cafes. She also enjoyed crossword puzzles, reading, gardening and playing with her dogs Olivia and Nani. She was a passionate animal rights advocate andloved spending time at the San Diego Animal Park.
She was a woman of amazing beauty, grace and resiliency; she overcame many substantial obstacles but managed to keep smiling and caring for those around her. She was known for her enormous generosity, and supportive nature and improved the lives of everyone she knew.Spending time with friends and family was a favorite of Marilyn's and she brought much joy and laughter to them. She supported many causes including the San Diego Zoo Wild Animal Park, SPCA, and Veterans, just to name a few. She loved animals and was a strong advocate for our environment.
She is survived by her daughter Gina Brown, son-in-law Terrance, grandchildren Jeanette, Hector, Vanessa, Michelle, Andrew and great grandchildren Elijah, Ezekiel and Ethaniel. She is also survived by her brother Michael Henry and his wife Jan, her niece Tiffany and great nephew Hunter, her sister Dorothy Henry and her husband Norbert Federspiel, her niece Kim Moore and her husband John, her nephew Kurt Robohm and his wife Ann, her great nephew Evan, and nephew Erick Robohm,. She was preceded in death by her Parents Pete and Margeline Henry, and her son, David Bruce Cawood and daughter Teryl Lynn Cawood.
We will be celebrating her life and her birthday, June 6, 2021, where we will honor her wishes by placing her ashes in the ocean so she can visit all the places she did not get to visit in life.

In lieu of flowers, please consider making a contribution to the San Diego zoo or charity of your choice.