WELKER, Marilyn

The Arizona Republic 3/31/2010 Welker, Marilyn Post,72, of Tucson died Friday, March 26, 2010, in Phoenix after a long illness. Born in Tucson in 1937 to O.K. "Bum" and Gertrude Post, Marilyn attended Tucson High School and earned both her bachelor's degree in music and master's in music education from the University of Arizona. After teaching in California, she married Dudley S. Welker of Safford in 1960. The Welkers spent most of their married life in the Gila Valley, where Marilyn remained involved in music. She directed choirs for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Thatcher for more than 30 years. Most recently, she directed the Gila Harmonizers women's community chorus. Marilyn also was an active member of the business community as she and Dudley owned and operated Consolidated Title Co. in Safford from 1972 to 2003. She served as president of the Gila Valley Economic Development Foundation and eight years on the Thatcher School Board. She and Dudley enjoyed spending time at their cabin on Mt. Graham and were active in the Mt. Graham Cabin Owners Association. In 2006, after Dudley had retired as Graham County Superior Court judge and from practicing law, the Welkers moved to Tucson. A talented seamstress, Marilyn was an avid quilter and loved gardening. She is survived by her husband, Dudley; four daughters, Susan (Carl) Turley of Alabama, Holly Welker of Salt Lake City, Utah, Kathryn (Matthew) Hess of Bountiful, Utah, and LoraLee (Spencer) Jesperson of Mesa; one son, John (Michelle Trexler) Welker of Tucson; three brothers, Dan (Patsy) Post of Marana, John (Pia) Post of Tucson, and Howard (Marilyn) Post of Queen Creek; and 15 grandchildren. Viewing will be from 6-8 p.m. Thursday, April 1, at Bring's Funeral Home, 6910 E. Broadway Blvd., and from 9-10:45 a.m. Friday, April 2, in the Binghampton LDS Chapel, 3750 E. Ft. Lowell. Services will be at 11 a.m. April 2 at the chapel, with burial following in the Binghampton Cemetery.