Marion Kilgore

Marion Kilgore - Daddy, Papaw, great-grandfather, brother, uncle, friend, and servant of God passed away peacefully on Wednesday, May 20, 2026, at the age of 84, surrounded by the family he loved so deeply.

Marion was born on March 29, 1942, in Kingston, Georgia, to the late Freeman Kilgore and Georgia Ellis Griggs. From humble beginnings came a man whose life would leave a lasting impression on everyone fortunate enough to know him.

Marion was a faithful believer and lover of the Lord. He was saved and a member of Pleasant Hill Baptist Church for decades, until he and Anne moved to Clarkdale Baptist, where he was a deacon for many years. His worship was never quiet or reserved - Marion believed in praising God with his whole heart. Whether it was tapping his foot, raising his hand, playing the piano, or picking up his guitar, his love for music and for the Lord radiated through him. He especially loved bluegrass, country (in his younger days, he could cut-a-rug doing the buck dance at barn dances), southern gospel, and just about any music that stirred the soul. His favorite was to sing southern gospel music while strumming his guitar with friends or family.

Marion was married to the love of his life, Anne, for 46 years until she passed away in January 2008. He always referred to her as "his sweetheart." He was completely devoted to her and she to him. Their marriage was a wonderful christian example for their children. While he never remarried, he found a special companion in Mrs. Faye Patterson. A widow herself, they kept each other company and made each other laugh for the last 9 years. She was a bright spot in all our lives.

For more than 40 years, Marion worked as a commercial painter and wallpaper hanger. He understood hard work better than most. His hands carried the marks of a blue-collar life, but his heart carried something even greater - devotion to his family. He worked tirelessly to make sure the people he loved were cared for. Though the work was difficult, Marion never complained. He simply kept going, always providing, always giving, always loving. And because of that, his family never felt poor in anything that truly mattered. They felt rich in love, security, and blessings.

But Marion's generosity did not stop with his family. He was a cut-up, a charmer and never met a stranger. He cared deeply for people - even complete strangers. It was not unusual to see him offer someone a ride down the road, hand money to someone in need, or take in stray kittens that needed a home (sometimes too many!) Helping others simply came naturally to him. His kindness was genuine, quiet, and constant.

Marion also loved the outdoors and staying active. Family vacations were always spent camping with friends. While he used to be an avid hunter, he gave it up years ago, saying he'd rather take pictures of the deer than shoot them. He was a fisherman most of his life and passed that love of fishing on to his children and grandchildren. (As long as you didn't catch a bigger fish than him, everything would be fine!) He enjoyed gardening but gave most of the vegetables away. He loved watching Gun Smoke and old western movies. (He was especially proud to tell everyone that he was named after John Wayne, whose real name was Marion Morrison. The family always joked that his mother ran out of names since all of his siblings had middle names, one brother had three!) If you knew Marion well, you also knew about his love (obsession) for blowing leaves in the yard - perhaps a little more enthusiastically than most people would understand. They were the bane of his existence and something his family had to learn to comically accept.

He believed in staying active and walked, ran and hiked most of his life, even to the end. While he was able, he would walk the five mile trail in Sweetwater Park and even walk from his home all the way to downtown Powder Springs and back. Even into his eighties, Marion was still jumping the creek near his house, better than most teenagers.

He was also a familiar face around town. Many mornings, you could find him at Martin's, Waffle House, or McDonald's enjoying breakfast and conversation. The employees knew him by name, by his kindness, and of course by his hair. It was his crowning glory, and he took pride in keeping a perfect coif. (An inside joke that everyone knew was never to touch his hair! When asked if his hair was okay, his daughter would jokingly say, "Strand #534 is out of place!") Everywhere he went, people complimented him on his hair.

Marion was the kind of man who left fingerprints on people's hearts. A hardworking provider. A faithful Christian husband, father and grandfather. A musician. A friend. A helper. An encourager. A man who loved deeply and gave generously. He had a way of making people feel seen, valued, and encouraged wherever he went.

While we grieve his absence today, we also celebrate the beautiful legacy he leaves behind. We are thankful for every lesson, every laugh, every song, every story, and every moment shared with him. Though we will miss him greatly, we can find comfort in knowing that Marion's walk of faith has now become sight. The man who loved the Lord so passionately is now at peace in His presence. Well done, good and faithful servant. You will always be loved, always remembered, and never forgotten.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his precious wife, Mary Anne Austin Kilgore; two sisters, Mary Fincher and Judy Dean; and two brothers, Robert Kilgore and Jay Kilgore.

He is survived by his daughter, Stacy (Ted) Oesterle; son, Richard (Beth) Kilgore; four grandchildren, Taylor (Matthew) Mitchell, Conner (Madison) Kilgore, Skylar Oesterle and Bryson Oesterle; great-granddaughter, Emersyn Rae Kilgore; sister Glenda Davis; and numerous nieces and nephews.

Visitation for Marion will be held on Saturday, May 23, 2026 from 5:00 PM until 7:00 PM at Clark Funeral Home. A funeral service will be held on Sunday, May 24, 2026, at 2:00 PM in the Sam Clark Chapel with Dr. Marc Merritt and Pastor Bobby Cheek officiating. Interment will follow in Paulding Memorial Gardens with Conner Kilgore, Bryson Oesterle, Matthew Mitchell, Bruce Bishop, Mitchel Austin and Coty Samaniego serving as pallbearers.

Clark Funeral Home is honored to be entrusted with the service for Mr. Marion Kilgore.