Marilyn McEver Head

April 11, 1937 – September 16, 2024
Resident of Berkeley

Marilyn was born in Russellville, Arkansas to Truman E. McEver and Pauline Swaim
McEver. She was an only child but spent her summers with two cousins and enjoyed
raising goats, which were necessary for a dairy allergy. She attended the University of
Arkansas, Fayetteville and was the first woman to graduate from their Department of
Chemical Engineering.
Her husband Harlan was a fellow student in the Chemical Engineering program and
they were married in 1960 in Russellville. After graduation she worked for the Humble
Oil Company as the contact person for the Ethyl Benzene Plant in Baytown, Texas,
while Harlan pursued a PhD at Rice University in Houston.
After Harlan finished his graduate work, he accepted a job with Shell Development Co.
in Emeryville. California. They lived in Berkeley and adopted 3 children, Stefanie,
Michael and Ben. Michael died in 1979 at age 9, and Stefanie was found to have
cerebral palsy. Thereafter, Marilyn devoted her life to working tirelessly with her children,
with the result that Stef not only finished high school but earned an associate degree
with honors from Berkeley City College.
In the mid-1960’s Harlan and Marilyn discovered Sycamore Congregational Church in
El Cerrito where they were both faithful members and leaders of the church for almost
60 years.
Marilyn was an extremely talented artist who worked in watercolors and also black and
white drawings. She was a member of the El Cerrito art community and for many years
she displayed and sold her artwork at various events. She converted many of her
paintings into gift cards, which were always in high demand. She also had a green
thumb and chaired the Plant Booth at the annual Sycamore Bazaar for many years.
Marilyn was one of the kindest and most loving people that many of us will ever meet,
and she will be missed dearly. She is survived by her husband of 64 years, Harlan, and
her children Stefanie and Benjamin. We would like to thank her caregiver, Lorena
Castro, for making her last months as comfortable and peaceful as possible. Memorial
services will be announced at a future date.

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