Marilyn Arlene Boyle

February 2, 1932 - April 17, 2022

Marilyn Arlene (Midge) Boyle February 2, 1932 – April 17, 2022 This Easter was a very sad day for our family, Dad lost his wife of 72 years and we lost our Mother. Marilyn Arlene (Midge) Boyle was 90 years old. She was born in Council Bluffs, Iowa on February 2, 1932, and died on April 17, 2022 in Bloomington, Indiana. She suffered from Alzheimer’s the last ten years of her life. Our family was by her side until the end. Midge graduated from Decatur High School, Decatur Illinois, in 1949. Mom and Dad were high school sweethearts. They married and moved to Boulder, Colorado during Dad’s college years. Midge was quite talented and touched many lives. Throughout her life, music brought her joy. Mom could play any instrument, primarily the piano. She danced all her life, and she performed with a tap dance group into her 70s. Throughout her disease, music was always her anchor. No one could outdo her color eye and interior design skills. It was not unusual for one of her homes to sell in a day, based on décor alone. She applied her design skills to her work as a seamstress too. She was so good she was hired to teach at a sewing school. Mom made all of our clothes: dance recital costumes, ice skating costumes, elaborate Halloween costumes, beautiful prom gowns, and even swim suits. Mom adored “boatin and floatin” as she called it. Dad and Mom were summer residents and property owners at Lake of the Ozarks, MO for years. Since childhood, the lake was a big part of our lives as our summer playground. She and Dad made sure we shared their love of the water. Mom was super fun and had a great sense of humor. She was the planner for the whole family and made sure we had lots of family dinners. In addition, she was an amazing role model, teaching us how to excel at anything we were interested in and accompanying us in many of our endeavors. She never missed a recital or graduation. She was support staff at so many dog shows and births (whelps) of pups we can’t count. She was the definition of “Whelper Helper.” Mom was a consummate businesswoman and a great cook. She developed all the recipes for our family’s restaurants, directly participated in their operation, and provided the organization to run the corporation. After her retirement from the business, mom took up the game of golf. She said she took so many lessons, she could teach golf, but despite living on three different courses, she never mastered the game. We were lucky to always be very close to our Mom from childhood through adulthood. Above all, she was a kind, thoughtful and loving person. She was a treasured friend to many. She was deeply committed to her husband, her daughters and the whole family. She was a superb mother and our best friend. Midge Boyle was preceded in death by her parents, Lois R. and Charles A. Medley, and her brother, Mark A. Medley. She is survived by her husband, John R. Boyle, her daughters Marilynne (Lynne) Boyle-Baise, Ph,D. (Michael Baise), Barbara Jo (Brytt) Boyle, sister-in law Brenda Medley, nieces and nephews Mark A. Medley Jr., Marci A. Medley, Chris Boyle, Cathy Boyle and Rick Boyle. If there is a day that our Mother would be called to God, her Easter parting is surely a gift. A day of celebration for the promise of hope, life eternal and love everlasting. Thank you God for freeing her from Alzheimer’s. Godspeed Mom, we will never stop loving you. A Celebration of Life will be held at Unity Spiritual Center, 4001 S. Rogers St. Bloomington, IN 47403, on April 30th from 2:30-4:00, Pastor Lynnette Carlson officiating. The service will be both live and streamed. The link for the service is: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81691185767?pwd=bVA1N2wxSzNvRy8zejRpM2JWUWFoUT09 The meeting ID/Passcode is: 980632. You are invited to share a brief story of your experience with Midge. In lieu of flowers, please donate to your local Alzheimer’s causes. Allen Funeral Home and Crematory, 4155 South Old State Road 37 in Bloomington have been entrusted with arrangements.