Marilyn Kay Perz (nee Herr)

Marilyn Kay Perz (nee Herr), 82, passed away peacefully in her sleep on October 30, 2024, after a long battle with cancer. She was born on April 5, 1942, in Cleveland, Ohio. She graduated from Bowling Green State University with a degree in biology and received a certificate in Medical Technology from University Hospitals in Cleveland.

Marilyn married Dennis Anthony Perz on October 1, 1966. They settled in Lakewood, Ohio, in 1968 and spent 10 years restoring what is now a century home. The family moved to Lake Jackson, Texas, in 1979. Marilyn spent her professional career as a medical technologist working in hospital labs.

In 1998, they retired and relocated to Georgetown, Texas, where they established the Georgetown Pecan Company. Marilyn was superlative at sewing and produced numerous quilts for children in need via Project Linus. She also created the popular pecan gift bags offered by the Georgetown Pecan Company at the many farmers markets around Central Texas. Marilyn was also active in the Native Plant Society of Texas and contributed to establishing several native plant demonstration gardens around Williamson County. She maintained extensive native plant gardens around her home outside of Georgetown, propagating seeds and native plant seedlings which she shared with many friends. Finally, Marilyn was an exceptional cook, creating or improving innumerable recipes from a wide diversity of sources ranging from old European traditions to Texas and Mexican specialties.

Marilyn’s compassion for everyone around her, along with her skill and work ethic at producing things to benefit others, will not be forgotten. Her dogged strength to work in an orchard and her tenacity to sell pecans in freezing weather at outdoor markets stand as an inspiration. She will be sorely missed by many, in Georgetown and beyond.

Marilyn is survived by her father Austin Charles Herr, her sister Laureen Orzechowski, her husband Dennis, their children Stephen, Alyssa, Aimee and Elizabeth, and their grandchildren, Samuel, Madelyn, Avery, Rowan, Alivea and Garrett. Dennis and Marilyn were married 58 years.

The Perz family will hold a memorial celebration on January 3, 2025, at 1-4 p.m. at Gabriels Funeral Chapel and Crematory in Georgetown, Texas.

The family suggests charitable contributions in Marilyn’s memory to the Central Texas Project Linus (https://centexprojectlinus.wixsite.com/texas), the Williamson County Chapter of the Native Plant Society of Texas (https://npsotwilco.org/), and M.D. Anderson Cancer Center (www.mdanderson.org/donors-volunteers/donate.html).