Marilyn Pearsall
August 31, 1931 - May 8, 2018

Marilyn passed away peacefully in Redding, unable to recover from injuries after a fall in her home. Her niece, Pam McEwen, was at her bedside to the end. She had resided in Arcata for 62 years.

She was born to Harvey and Beryl Baird in Rohnerville, attended Rohnerville Grammar School and graduated from Fortuna High School. She married Darrel Pearsall and they moved to Arcata where they had three children, Deniece, Gayle and Rick. Finding herself on her own as a very young woman, she set out to make a new life. With no established credit history in her name and no work experience outside of the home, she just moved forward with all she had. Determined to make it on her own and never asking for help, she applied for jobs and was eventually hired by Dutra Trucking where she became a friend as well as an employee.

Later she applied for work at United Indian Health Services and started a long relationship first working in Trinidad and then in Potawat Village in Arcata as they moved to their new location.

She defied all odds as she became ill and was in liver failure in 1995. She received a liver transplant at Stanford University Hospital that gave her 23 years of life. Marilyn was proud to still be a faithful employee of UIHS, where she worked for 25 years and never intended to retire. She loved baking treats on Sunday to share at work on Monday. She considered her co-workers family.

Marilyn leaves three sisters, Jackie Winsby, Eureka, Loyce Stovall, Eureka, Gloria Cottrell, Bridgeville, and a brother Harvey Baird, Fortuna. She was preceded in death by her parents and a sister, Beverly Lewis and her daughter Deniece Pearsall. She also leaves behind four grandchildren and many nieces and nephews.

Friends and family are invited to a celebration of her amazing life on Saturday June 2nd in the Tish Non Ballroom at Bear River Casino Resort Hotel from 1 to 3:30 p.m.

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The obituary above was submitted on behalf of Marilyn Pearsall’s family. The Lost Coast Outpost runs obituaries of Humboldt County residents at no charge. See guidelines here.