Marilyn Elizabeth Aagaard Martin
Born January 30, 1939 in Easton, PA.Passed away August 7, 2026 in Indialantic, Florida
Marilyn Elizabeth Aagaard Martin peacefully passed away at her home on August 7, 2026, following a prolonged illness. She was surrounded by her entire family. She was 87 years old.
Marilyn was born on January 30, 1939, in Easton, Pennsylvania, to Stanley A. Aagaard and Ethel E. (Smith) Aagaard. She was predeceased by her parents and her siblings, Kathleen Violet Aagaard Crooks and Dr. Stanley Anderson Aagaard II.
She is survived by her beloved husband of 64 years, Evan F. Martin; her loving children; son, David Evan Martin (Susan) of Orlando, Florida; her daughter, Laura Elizabeth Martin Armul (Bradford) of Melbourne, Florida; and her adored grandchildren, Evan James Martin, Jeri Lynn Martin of Orlando, Florida, and Brooke Elizabeth Armul of Melbourne, Florida. She is also survived by many loving nieces and nephews.
Marilyn and Evan were married in 1962 at Durham Lutheran Church in Durham, Pennsylvania. She graduated from Wilson High School in 1957 and earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Education from East Stroudsburg University in 1961. She later completed graduate coursework at Lehigh University in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania. Marilyn began her teaching career in the Easton Area School District, where she taught second grade at Palmer Township Elementary School for six years. After leaving full-time teaching, she continued to share her love of learning as a substitute teacher and private tutor.
In 1973, Marilyn and her family moved to Melbourne, Florida, following a job transfer for Evan. They soon settled in the beachside community of Indialantic, which remained their home for more than 50 years.
With two young children, five-year-old David and ten-month-old Laura, Marilyn devoted herself to caring for her family and did not return to full-time teaching in Florida. Before long, however, she discovered the local art community and became a member and volunteer at the Brevard Art Museum.
There, Marilyn studied the art of basket making and developed a talent that led her to exhibit her work in local art shows, at the museum, and in art studios in Colorado. When arthritis eventually made basket making difficult, she turned her creativity toward a longtime dream of writing children’s books.
Marilyn went on to publish three books in her Friends Forever series. Written for young readers, the stories centered on family life on a ranch in Colorado. She especially enjoyed including grandparents in her stories, inspired by the deep love she had for her own Grandpa Aagaard. She also maintained a lifelong interest in his Danish heritage and relatives. During her writing career, Marilyn was a member of the National League of American Pen Women and participated in a local group of authors.
Marilyn was a quick learner with an endless curiosity about the world around her. She was an avid reader and especially loved books about birdwatching, wildlife, the history of the American West, and Native American history. Her interests included the Battle of the Little Bighorn and Wounded Knee, places she and Evan traveled together.
Family stories on her mother’s side told of a Native American woman who took the Christian name “Margaret” and married into the family. This story helped inspire Marilyn’s lifelong interest in Native American history and contributed to the extensive collection of books that filled the family’s home library.
Marilyn covered a great deal of ground in her life, both literally and figuratively, and she never stopped wanting to learn. She loved people, and people loved her. Everywhere she went, she made friends. She had a remarkable ability to speak comfortably with people from all walks of life and was genuinely interested in hearing their stories and learning about the lives they had lived.
In the words of her husband, Evan:
“Marilyn, my love, I was blessed to have you in my life for the past 80 years. I will miss you forever, for as long as I live, and I look forward to the day when we meet again in Heaven and resume our eternal life and love forever and ever.” Evan
A memorial service will be held on Saturday, September 19, 2026, at 10:00 a.m. at Brownlie-Maxwell Funeral Home in Melbourne, Florida.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorial donations be made in Marilyn’s memory to Alzheimer’s research, Health First Hospice in Melbourne, Florida, or a charity of your choice.
