Marilyn Hastings

Marilyn (nee: Nossaman) (Phillips) Hastings

Passed away peacefully in West Bloomfield Twp. on June 15, 2025. She was 94 years old. She is survived by her children Cindy (Steve) Chismark, Shelley (Jeff) Reynolds, James Jr. (Liz) Hastings and Gary Hastings, dear grandmother of Brent and Bethany Chismark and Joshua and Nathan Reynolds, great grandmother of Kris, Kayden and Eloise. She was preceded in death by her husband of nearly 30 years, James Hastings.

She graduated from Grand Rapids Central High School, Grand Rapid Junior College (GRCC) and Central Michigan College (CMU). Marilyn married Wesley (Skip) Phillips in 1953 and they began their adventure in California with the Coast Guard.

She was a strong, independent woman who gave her family anything that was needed. In 1965 due to changing family situations, she went back to school to be a business teacher. But the new high school beckoned so she applied for and began her career as guidance secretary at the newly opened Portage Northern High School. She advanced through the system and was on the first negotiating team when the union was formed. Her final position was as the personnel secretary for the district. She loved all her jobs but she left in 1976 to begin adventures with her new husband, corporate pilot, Jim. She traveled throughout the world with Jim as the flight attendant on the European and South American flights.

After their retirement, they built their dream house on North Hutchison Island, Florida where they resided until Jim’s death in 2005. She moved to West Bloomfield Twp. and created a multi-generational home with her daughter Shelley. She felt so lucky and grateful to be able to share in the everyday family life of her family.

She will be interred with Jim later this summer in Grand Rapids, Michigan.