Marilyn Christopher Krahn

Marilyn Christopher Krahn, 96, passed away peacefully on February 13, 2026, in Meridian. Even hindered by dementia in her last few years, she always had smiles for those around her. Born in Seattle on November 23, 1929, and raised in Portland, Oregon, Marilyn graduated from Oregon State University in 1950. She met Gaylord Krahn in high school and began dating while he was overseas in the Navy. They were married on June 14, 1952, and happily remained so until his passing in 2011. 

She received a degree in Home Economics and taught in Portland until they began their family in 1954. Julie, Dan, and Marge had arrived by 1958 and were born in Portland, where they thought the Krahn Family would stay. But Gaylord worked for Shell Oil and they were transferred to New York, quite a change for the young family! After deciding they didn’t want to raise their family there, they moved to Boise in 1961 and became partners with Alex and Marge Findlay (Marilyn’s sister) in Gem Furniture at 912 Broadway, across from the football Stadium. That partnership built a successful business over the years, with Marilyn and Marge helping with decorating, attending furniture markets, and carrying on a tradition from their childhood of creating a Christmas Window that became a must see for children and adults alike. Gem Furniture evolved into the present Krahn’s Home Furnishings in McCall, and the animated Christmas Window is still a beloved tradition there. 

Marilyn enjoyed being home with their kids and participated at their schools, but her giving nature always compelled her to find time to contribute to the community. In Boise she was a member of the Boise Junior League, First Presbyterian Church, American Association of University Women (AAUW), and Crane Creek Country Club. She especially enjoyed her years as a Girl Scout Leader. They had a wide circle of friends and family with whom they enjoyed dinner parties, luncheons, holidays, and card games. 

In the early 1970s Marilyn and her friend Martha Brooks became entrepreneurs, founding Creativity, a fiber art shop where they taught macrame, weaving, basketry, and counted cross stitch. The business thrived for over 10 years in the Old Boise building near 5th and Main streets. 

In the 1980s Marilyn and Gaylord gradually moved to McCall to help with the transition of Gem Furniture to Krahn’s Home Furnishings. In addition to both of them working full time at the store, Marilyn continued her commitment to civic involvement by joining the McCall Memorial Hospital Auxiliary, the Progressive Club, and the McCall Community Church. She served as a deacon of the church and a member of the choir for many years, participated in several committees, and enjoyed coordinating the altar flowers for special occasions. Her love of flowers and gardening was also seen as she tended the flower beds at the furniture store for many years. By far the most volunteer hours she spent were at the hospital thrift shop, which she was devoted to for over 20 years. 

Always a social person, she loved making new friends, and many have said that she was the first one to greet them and invite them to an activity when they moved to McCall. Known for her smile and sense of humor, she was often the last one to leave a gathering because she knew so many people and always wanted to meet more. The 4th of July was a favorite holiday. She started a tradition of inviting a large crowd to enjoy fireworks at the lake, including popcorn, homemade root beer floats, and her dressed in the loudest red, white, and blue outfit she could find. 

Another constant in her life was her love of beaches and the waves. Growing up in Portland her family had many happy memories of vacations at the Oregon Coast. Once she and Gaylord had their family, they would make annual treks to Portland and the coast to hold hands in a chain as they jumped waves in the ocean and brought home shells and sand dollars. From these trips came the oft repeated edict, “Never turn your back on the ocean.” She continued those trips until her last walk on an Oregon beach in October 2022. She had the good fortune to live by the lake in McCall and spent many hours with family having picnics and loving the sunsets, waves, and beaches of Payette Lake. 

For Marilyn, the most special times in McCall were spent growing up with their grandchildren, Katie, Bob, Will, and Mike. She felt so fortunate to get to play with them as often as possible. Their adventures included walking up to the (old) post office for mail, visiting the (former) fire station, and playing at the parks. Flashlight walks in the dark were a treat in winter! Katie gave her the nickname Bammer, which she felt was a loving label. Her great grandchildren know her as Who-Who, which is a family greeting from her childhood in Portland. Another tradition from her childhood that she continued and is still made today, was making homemade root beer every summer. She taught this skill to not only her kids, grandkids, and great grandkids, but also to many friends and kids in McCall. 

She was preceded in death by her parents, her sister, her husband, and her grandson Christopher M. Krahn. Survivors include Julie, Dan (Nancy), Marge, grand and great grandkids Katie (Rob) O’Neil (with Cora and Ellie), Bob (Johanna) Krahn (with Connor and Mason), Will (Maegan) Krahn (with Brynn and Blair), and Mike (Janae) Krahn (with Callahan, Lucile, and Josephine).

A Celebration of Life will be held at the McCall Community Church on March 28, 2026, at 11:00 a.m. Memorials may be sent to the St Luke’s McCall Foundation or the McCall non-profit of your choice.

Online condolences may be left at www.mccallfunerals.com

Arrangements in care of McCall Funeral Home.