Marlys Kerton

Marlys Joy Kerton, 79, passed away on February 1, 2026, at Springs Ranch Memory Care in Colorado Springs, Colorado.

Marlys was born on March 15, 1946, in Joplin, Missouri, and grew up in Iowa City, Iowa. She graduated from Iowa City High School in 1964 and went on to earn a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology from the University of Iowa in 1968.

Music was a lifelong joy for Marlys, especially the music of the Beatles. She played both the piano and violin. While sports were not her passion, she enjoyed swimming and spending time with her close group of high school friends. Marlys worked in a variety of positions throughout her career, most often as an executive secretary. While working at Kirkwood Community College in Cedar Rapids, she met Steve Kerton through his brother, Dave. Marlys and Steve were married on July 11, 1979, at Danforth Chapel on the University of Iowa campus.

The couple made their home in Monument, Colorado, where Steve worked as a banker for Integrity Bank and Trust. During their 43 years together, they shared a deep love for animals and welcomed several dogs and a cat into their home. Marlys was an accomplished quilter and crocheter. She took great pride in hand-quilting projects after the fabric pieces were machine assembled and was an active member of a quilting club for many years.

Each year, Marlys returned to Iowa to visit her sister, Janis, and family, as well as her parents after they moved to Creston. As Marlys and Steve’s health declined, they became more secluded at home. Steve passed away in 2022 following complications from a fall. After his passing, Marlys’s sister Janis became her power of attorney, assisting with finances and ensuring her safety and care. Marlys had sustained a serious concussion in a car accident in 1984, which significantly affected her memory over time. In November 2025, she suffered a fall resulting in a broken femur. Following surgery, her health continued to decline, and she passed away peacefully.

Marlys is survived by her sister, Janis Owens of Creston, Iowa; nephew Ethan Owens (Dana) of Waukee, Iowa, and their children Evelyn and Jeanie; nephew Eric Owens (Kylie) of Leawood, Kansas, and their children Katelyn and Tommy; niece Leanne Smith (Russ), and their children Addie, Eva, and Graham; sister-in-law Nancy Hough (Jim) and family of Manchester, Iowa; and brother-in-law Dave Kerton and family of Marion, Iowa.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Marna and J.D. Anderson; her husband, Steve Kerton; and her brother-in-law, Larry Owens.