Marylin Hayes Martin passed away peacefully on June 17, 2026, in Oakdale, California, surrounded by her loving family and friends.

She was born on December 6, 1940, in Little Rock, Arkansas, and spent her early childhood in the nearby community of Beckett Mountain, where she was raised with her parents and siblings before the family relocated to Turlock, California. It was there that she met and married her high school sweetheart, David Hayes. Soon afterward, they started a family of three sons and made Turlock their home for many years.

Marylin was an exceptionally devoted and supportive mother. She enthusiastically encouraged her sons in all of their activities, was always among the first to volunteer when help was needed, and rarely missed one of their many ball games. She especially enjoyed dancing to the music of her son Steve's band, and she and David were active members of the Turlock Dance Club.

For those who knew her, Marylin was known as one of Elvis Presley’s biggest fans. She saw him in concert several times and frequently retold exciting stories of how she kissed him twice during concerts and was given two of his famous scarves by Elvis himself, which she greatly treasured.

Marylin dedicated much of her life to caring for others. In 1989, she opened a guest home for elderly women in Turlock, Marylin's Majestic Manor, where, for the next fifteen years, she provided exceptional love and care to residents, including members of several prominent local families, as well as her own mother and one of her former high school teachers.

During this chapter of her life, Marylin also discovered a remarkable talent for watercolor painting. After taking lessons, she quickly became known throughout the area for her beautiful artwork. Her paintings earned awards and commissions, and one of her most treasured works—a watercolor of Turlock High School—was auctioned as part of a fundraising effort to support the school's historic restoration after a fire.

After the death of her husband, David, Marylin sold the facility in 1992 and moved to the Monterey area. There, she put her exceptional organizational talents to work as the house manager for the prestigious Stonepine Estate in Carmel Valley. It was during this time that she met her future husband, Frank Martin, and the two were married in 1998 beneath the iconic Lone Cypress in Pebble Beach.

The couple made their home in the beautiful hillside community of Twain Harte, where they lived for ten years before downsizing and settling in nearby Columbia. There, Marylin and Frank built many lasting friendships and enjoyed an active social life as members of the Newcomers Club. They were married for twenty-six years before Frank’s death in 2023.

Marylin also treasured her friendships in the Ladies Birthday Club. For fourteen years, the women celebrated one another's birthdays with festive luncheons, dressing in their finest attire for each occasion. It quickly became one of Marylin's favorite traditions, as she delighted in creating stylish and beautiful outfits for the celebrations.

It was during her years in the mountains that Marylin discovered yet another hidden talent—writing. Her love of family, genealogy, and the stories of her ancestors inspired her to take writing classes. After years of hard work and dedication, she completed her novel, Common Thread – Uncommon Women, in 2013. Inspired by true events, the story follows four generations of women in her family and celebrates their Native American heritage. Additionally, drawing on her love of art, creativity, and fostering spaces for expression, Marylin and her sister, Jill Klajic-Ryan, founded the Sonora Writers Group and hosted the first writers’ retreat in Tuolumne County, creating a welcoming space for fellow writers to gather and share their work.

Marylin never stopped growing, learning, and discovering new ways to use her gifts. She embraced each season of life with purpose and grace. She was a devoted wife, mother, grandmother, caregiver, entrepreneur, artist, writer, and friend. Her legacy lives on in the beauty she created and the stories she preserved for future generations.

Marylin is preceded in death by her spouses, David Hayes and Frank Martin, and her son, Byron Hayes.

She is survived by her sons, Randall Hayes; and Steve Hayes and his wife, Deborah Hayes. She is also survived by her sister, Jill Klajic-Ryan and her husband, Dan Ryan.

Her legacy continues through her beloved grandchildren: Brandon Hayes, Conner Hayes, Tate Hayes, Jack Hayes, and Shannon Hayes; her great-grandchildren, Tawnie Romero, Austin Hayes, and Hannah Hayes; and great-great grandchildren.

A public memorial service will be held at Covenant Living Berg Hall, 2125 North Olive Avenue, Turlock, on Saturday, July 25th at 3:00 PM.