Marilyn S. Hudson passed away at age 91 on March 31, 2023, in Seattle. Her loving husband, Bruce Hudson, followed on October 19, 2025. Their family plans to give their ashes a water burial in Puget Sound from the Edmonds-Kingston ferry run.

From a young age, Marilyn had a keen intelligence, a love of reading and storytelling, and aspirations to serve her community and contribute to the world. She grew into a highly respected public affairs and communications professional and a loving matriarch.

Marilyn was born and raised in the village of Hamburg, NY, and recalled her childhood as idyllic. She attended nursing school at the University of Rochester, NY, then worked with troubled children for a year at Bradley Hospital in Rhode Island before completing a B.S. in nursing education. She also taught psychiatric nursing.

It was at Strong Memorial Hospital in Rochester where Marilyn met a young doctor, Bruce Hudson. The two married in August 1955.

Marilyn arrived in Yakima in 1957, at age 26, to a new life as Bruce started his pediatric practice. The early years were a challenge and adventure, living in a small apartment with young children and no car most days.

In 1958 Marilyn joined the League of Women Voters of Yakima (LWV), where she found friends with similar interests and threw herself into studying local and state government. Marilyn partnered with others on research, writing, voter education efforts, and voter registration drives. She became close friends with Kara Kondo as the two worked on League projects late into the night after their children were in bed.

Marilyn served in many volunteer roles, including as board member and as president of the LWV, as Yakima City Planning Commissioner from 1968-1978, and on various task forces and non-profit boards.

In the mid 1970s, Marilyn became a TV producer at KYVE, where she was later appointed as Public Affairs Director, then Program Manager. She produced shows on local government and a range of local issues and community topics, becoming a regular face on local public television.

Marilyn greatly enjoyed friendships and networking with other women in media and communications, helping form a well-attended lunch group dubbed "The Pizza Society."

After leaving KYVE around 1988, Marilyn contracted as a grant writer. She was especially proud of telling the story of Heritage College and those it served, bringing in major donations to build out the campus and expand its offerings.

Marilyn and Bruce left Yakima in 1996 to begin a new chapter in Port Ludlow on the Olympic Peninsula. They swam, hiked, hosted family, and took every opportunity to dance. Marilyn found a new passion, becoming a docent at the Port Townsend Marine Science Center. They spent time with their children and grandchildren, near and far, and traveled extensively in other countries, especially Latin America.

In early 2020, they moved to a retirement home in Seattle to be close to family after Marilyn's mind began to fail her. She passed away March 31, 2023 and has been dearly missed.

She is now survived by her children, Rick Hudson (Lisa), Karen Baunsgard (Lee), Anne Bodman (Phil), and Betsy Hudson (Koichi Orita); grandchildren Erica Hall, Alex Bodman, Hannah Hudson-Walks, Sarah Marler, Kai Orita, and Zen Orita; great-grandchildren Quinn and Isla Hall, and Lewis Bodman.

Donations in remembrance of Marilyn may be sent to: Port Townsend Marine Science Center at 532 Battery Way, Port Townsend, WA 98368 or online at www.ptmsc.org/donate.