Marilyn M. True, age 91, of Warrensburg passed away Tuesday, August 17, 2021 at Warrensburg Manor Care Center.

She was born March 27, 1930 in Nyack, NY, the much beloved daughter of Thomas and Hannah (Fitzpatrick) Millspaugh. She grew up going to the NY Mets baseball games and Broadway shows—a combination of passions which continued throughout her life. One of her great joys was rooting for any team playing against her father's favorite team, the NY Yankees. As she cheered on the opposition, he would often tell her to sit down and be quiet — something Marilyn never felt the need to do.

Marilyn earned a Bachelor's degree in music education from Ithaca College and a piano performance Master of Music degree from the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor. She was in the first class of doctoral candidates at the University of Michigan School of Music. During her time in Ann Arbor, she taught class piano, worked in research and programming for the classical radio station, and met and married Wesley O. True (June 15, 1957).

Marilyn and Wes lived in South Carolina from 1960 to 1963.  When Wes accepted the job offer to move to Warrensburg, he happily shared the headline of the paper with Marilyn about the local tractor pull.  After the initial shock wore off, Marilyn came to love Warrensburg and the friends she made here.

Marilyn established an Independent Piano Studio in Warrensburg, which she maintained for over forty years. She taught students of all ages -- from kindergarten through retired adults. Students came to her from Warrensburg, Whiteman AFB, and the surrounding areas. She was in demand both as a teacher and an adjudicator. In addition to her private studio, she was often an adjunct teacher at the University of Central Missouri, and for ten years taught at State Fair Community College. Marilyn was a vital collaborative artist performing with string, wind, and brass players, vocalists, and with her husband, her duet/two-piano partner.

Marilyn helped to establish the Epsilon Omega chapter of Sigma Alpha Iota at UCM. She was an active member of Music Teachers National Association (MTNA), holding many leadership positions including president of Missouri MTA (MMTA), MMTA certification chair, MMTA high school auditions chair, and vice president for auditions. Her work with MTNA culminated in the 2004 induction as an MTNA Fellow.

An avid KC Chiefs fan, most family events were scheduled around the football season. Wes and Marilyn loved to travel, going on numerous trips to six of the seven continents. They were season ticket holders of the KC Symphony and Chicago Opera. Community was important to Marilyn. She volunteered at the Warrensburg Public Library and the Johnson County Community Health Clinic. Marilyn loved movies, reading, sewing, but most of all she loved her daughters and her husband.

Marilyn is survived by her husband Wesley True; her daughters Amy Belden (David) and Carolyn True (Brian); and her niece Jennifer Hilterbrick (Scott).

Funeral services will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Thursday, August 19, 2021 at the Christ Episcopal Church in Warrensburg with Mother Anne Meredith Kyle officiating. Interment will follow in Sunset Hill Cemetery.

The family will receive friends from 1:00 p.m. until service time at the church.