Marilyn Mabrey Sanders was born March 27, 1933, to Guy and Hazel (Leonard) Mabrey. She died at Highland Court Health and Rehabilitation Center in Marshall on March 1, 2024.

She graduated from Leslie High School in 1951 and continued her education at Arkansas State Teacher’s College in Conway.

She married the love of her life, Kenneth Sanders, in 1953 and moved to Kansas City for Kenneth to finish his military enlistment.

She and Kenneth returned to Marshall at the end of his service and she spent several years teaching at Marshall, Leslie and Snowball. She taught a multitude of grades and subjects and always spoke fondly of her years teaching.

She and Kenneth took over the operation of the Ken Theatre and their love of the movie business was born. In 1966, they opened the Kenda Drive-In Theatre and for almost 40 years worked side by side in the business, watching generations of Searcy County residents “grow up” at the drive in. Until her retirement in 2003, she was the face of the drive-in, handing out speakers and welcoming customers at the box-office. Many Searcy County teenagers were listed in her “charge book” when they didn’t have enough money for a movie. After retirement, she spent most evenings in front of her picture window, watching the “crowd come in.”

Her and Kenneth were blessed with three children; Steve, Bill, and Kenda; all three of which worked at the family business when needed. She was the rock of her family, always cooking, cleaning and taking care of them. She loved her kids, but the grandkids and great-grands brought special joy to her life.

Survivors include her son and daughter-in-law, Bill and Kay Sanders of Little Rock; daughter and son-in-law, Kenda and Todd Dearing of Marshall; grandchildren, Kory (Kim) Sanders, Rane (Melanie) Dearing, Maggie (Josh) Jeffers, and Kace (Jaden) Dearing; and greatgrandchildren, Wyatt and Parker Jeffers, Jack and River Dearing, and Karsyn Dearing.

She is preceded in death by her father and mother; husband, Kenneth Sanders; a son, Steven Ray Sanders; and sisters, Wanda Lee Daniel and Carolyn Griffith.

Funeral services for her were 10:00 a.m. Tuesday, March 5, 2024 at Roller-Coffman Chapel in Marshall, Arkansas. Visitation was 6:00 until 8:00 p.m. Monday, March 4, 2024 in the Chapel. Interment was in East Lawn Cemetery where she was laid to rest beside her husband, Kenneth. Pallbearers were Kory Sanders, Rane Dearing, Kace Dearing, Josh Jeffers, Heath Massey, Doug Campbell, and Jason Bradford. A special thank you to the staff at Highland Court and Laura Treat of Legacy Hospice for their care and compassion during the last few weeks.