Marilyn Marie Firehammer

Marilyn Marie (Ericson) Firehammer, aged 97, infused the universe with happiness, light and love as her joyous soul left this realm on June 2 at her oldest daughter’s home. In the days before her passing she was surrounded with love and music by friends and family. She was born and raised in Rockford, Illinois, to Conrad and Esther Ericson. She thrived in a loving family and her friendship circle, The Harrises, consisting of 5 young girls who banded together at the age of 5 and remained friends throughout their lives. Marilyn was the last remaining of the group. Marilyn took up golf in middle school and was in golf groups until her late 70s. She had quite a few holes-in-one over the years, and she and her husband Welton (Bill) Firehammer enjoyed playing golf together when they lived at a condominium and golf club in Clearwater, Florida. Marilyn graduated from Lawrence College in Madison Wisconsin with a BA in Music, majoring in voice. Singing and listening to music were favored activities. She made up songs that she sung to her children and pets. She would play the piano and Bill would sing along to lots of Rogers and Hammerstein songs. In her later years she and her daughter Lynn sang in the Tallahassee Community Chorus, and after moving to Crawfordville, they sang Handel’s Messiah with the Wakulla Community Theater for several years. Marilyn also sang in the Silver Belles in Crawfordville for many years. In college Marilyn met Bill Firehammer, who came on campus after WWII ended as a GI bill student. They married after their graduation in 1949. Bill passed away 3 days after their 70th wedding anniversary. They had three children. Marilyn’s career was primarily as a housewife and mother, but she was a paid soloist at two churches during her life, and she started the children’s choir at Clearwater United Methodist Church named the Sunshine Singers. Once the kids were all in school, Marilyn worked as a career counselor at the Pinellas County Vocational School where she worked for 20 years until her retirement in 1989. Marilyn was a knitter in her younger years and an avid crocheter later in life. Her children all have many Mom-made afghans. Over the years she made tiny booties for NICU babies, sleeves for renal dialysis patients, lap robes that she gave away to Big Bend Hospice, and friends at the Wakulla County Senior Center, plus every resident at her assisted living facility got a lap robe. She would make many hats in the warm months and when the weather turned cold, she would take them all to lunch and lay them out for anyone who wanted to take one, or more. Her statement to each person who received a crocheted item was…. “Just remember, there is love in every stitch!” Many friends have crocheted scarves, hats, lap robes, booties, table runners, placemats, dog and/or cat blankets and Christmas tree ornaments. Marilyn was the happiest person who never complained or spoke poorly about anything or anyone. She touched many lives with her joyous spirit and had many unofficially adopted daughters from her childrens’ groups of friends. Her monicker became Pollyanna Mumzy, which she loved. She said it made her tail wag. She wagged her tail a lot! She leaves behind her daughters Lynn Marie Firehammer (Dave Holman), Lori Ann Firehammer (Nick Gandy), and her son Mark Edward Firehammer. She was preceded in death by her parents, her brother Robert Ericson, and her husband. She will be deeply missed by all who knew her. A Celebration of Life is being planned for the Fall. The family suggests donations in her honor to Big Bend Hospice in Tallahassee or the Wakulla County Senior Center. Niki Carney of Bevis Funeral Home (www.bevisfh.com or 850-385-2193) is assisting the Firehammer family with their arrangements.

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Marilyn Marie Firehammer

August 6, 1927 - June 2, 2025