Marilyn West Gatwood Kibambe (70), went to be with the Lord on October 10th, 2024 in Scottsdale, Arizona. She was born in Salinas, California to Raymond and Clara West in 1953. Marilyn spent the majority of her life in California, with a few years spent in Washington state, then Arizona where she spent her remaining years. Marilyn will most fondly be remembered as a talented quilter and cross-stitch artist, for which she won several awards, including a Best in Show prize at the California State Fair. She also faithfully attended church at Church of the Valley in Santa Clara, California and Desert Palms Church in Chandler, Arizona. Not only did she attend church regularly, serve in church leadership and sing in the choir and praise team, but she also put her faith into action on a mission-related trip to Africa to spread God’s Word. Additionally, Marilyn was able to combine two of her loves, quilting and spreading God’s love, through participation in the San Jose chapter of Prayers and Squares, which distributes handmade quilts to anyone in need of prayer. She also loved going for long drives just to “see what’s out there”. She would often be accompanied by her much-loved doggy, Daisy. Marilyn was married twice; first, to Douglas Gatwood with whom she welcomed her beloved daughter, Stacy and many years later, she again found love and happiness with Abraham Kibambe of Tanzania and took his daughter, Joy, and son, Daniel, into her family. Marilyn will be dearly missed by her daughter, Stacy Gatwood Creese, along with Stacy’s husband Jeff and stepson Owen; her two sisters, Jeanette West and Cindy West; her brother Ed West; and two nieces Leslie West and Sarah West. Marilyn was preceded in death by her husband, Abraham; and her parents, Raymond & Clara West. A memorial service and reception will be announced at a later date.