- Date Of Birth: February 27, 1954
- Date Of Death: June 29, 2016
- State: Idaho
After a brief illness, on June 29, 2016, Marilyn ‘Tootie’ Rich (born Marilyn Sue Newman on February 27, 1954) passed on to become the brightest star in the sky. Tootie was a beautiful woman inside and out; her soul sparkled as she brought joy and laughter and depth and fullness of life everywhere she went.
Tootie is survived by daughter Chelsea (Sea Marie), and son Lee Biladeau and his wife Lindsay. She had seven siblings and five brothers/sisters-in-law: sisters Carolyn and husband Dan (Hoot) Gibson, Anna and Bill Kirkpatrick, and Mary and Troy Brimson; brothers Sherman (Buck) Newman and his wife Marilyn, Cal and Darla Newman, and Tom Newman. She had twelve nieces and nephews whom she adored, and countless youngsters who called her “Aunt Tootie,” true or not. She was preceded in death by parents Sherm and Marie Newman, and youngest brother John.
During her illness she was continually surrounded by family and friends, friends, friends. Even her many friends have said, “I’ve never known anyone with so many friends.”
Tonight take a moment and look up into the dark summer sky.
The magnitude of her passing will be felt deeply for a long time. Tootie had a gift for saying exactly the right thing in the right way at the right time to the right person. Her words and insight and legacy of love will continue to resonate in the hearts and minds of all whose lives she touched.
