Marilynn Reagan Hamilton

Marilynn Reagan Hamilton of Bella Vista passed away Tuesday, July 17, 2012, at the Concordia Nursing Center. Mrs. Hamilton was the oldest of eight children of G. Bert Reagan and L. Mae Bergman Reagan and was born Aug. 21, 1921, in Minonk, Ill. She served in the U.S. Navy WAVES during WW II at the Fleet Post office in New York City, at the headquarters for the Radar Training Schools in Chicago and at Great Lakes, Ill. She married Philip A. Hamilton March 9, 1946. They celebrated their 50th anniversary in 1996 and he died in 1997. She was preceded in death by her parents; and three brothers Oris, Ross Carey and Robert. Mrs. Hamilton had an interesting life. She often said her great interest was being a world neighbor. The couple entertained 190 foreign guests from all over the world. She and her husband sponsored three families, "adopted in love" Maggie and Kjell Johansson from Sweden, Chinh and Doanh Pham from Vietnam, and Olivia Mercedes Urbina Ouart of Chile. She was involved in community affairs as the director of Whispering Oaks Community Center and was also the activities director for nine senior centers in McHenry County, Ill., before moving to Bella Vista in 1995. She taught English as a second language both in Illinois and at the Benton County Literary Council. She recently retired after 11 years as the producer/hostess for the show "The Feminine Point of View" on Bella Vista Community Television. She is survived by her son, John (Cathy) Hamilton of Elgin, Ill.; daughter, Lesley Ann Hamilton of Springdale, Ark.; stepdaughter, Susan Hamilton of Bella Vista, Ark.; grandchildren, Michael Hamilton of Clear Water, Fla., Linda (Bob) Torkelson of Scottsdale, Ariz., Mark (Lisa) Betchey of Denver, Colo.; five great-grandchildren; four sisters, Nadine Provance of Sandy, Utah, Jolie Clark of Union Grove, Wis., Rene (Alan) Cathcart of Vancouver, Wash., and Glenda (Phil) Wieck of Bella Vista, Ark. A viewing will be held Tuesday, July 24, from 9 to 10:45 a.m. at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 1101 McCollum Road, Bentonville, Ark., with services immediately following at 11. Interment will be at Windridge Memorial Park, Carey, Ill. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Bella Vista Community Television, Highlands Crossing 1801 Forest Hills Blvd, Suite 110, Bella Vista, AR 72715. Arrangements are by Callison-Lough Funeral Home of Bentonville. www.callisonlough.com.