11/11/2026
Marilyn Anne Reid, 65, passed away on October 16th, 2026, after a long battle with cancer. She was an adoring mom, loving wife, and gifted teacher.
Marilyn was born in Jacksonville, Florida on November 19th, 1960, the fifth child of Ted and Margaret Maurer. She attended Catholic schools in Jacksonville and Tampa until her family moved to Brandon where she graduated from Brandon High School in 1978.
Marilyn met her husband James Reid in Jacksonville. They were married in 1995 and moved to Palatka that same year. She and Jim raised three daughters: Tara Reid-Cherry (Blaine), Haley Reid (Garrett Fernandez), and Dr. Carley Reid (Jake Chernicky). Marilyn was by Tara’s side to welcome her first grandchild, Lafayette James Cherry, the month before she passed.
In 2012, Marilyn graduated with her BA in English Literature from the University of North Florida and became an instructor of GED preparatory courses at St. Johns River State College. She was particularly proud of her work at SJRState and used her personal experience as a non-traditional student to help students of all ages learn, gain confidence, and advance into their futures. Later, she taught 6th grade English at the Putnam Academy of Arts and Sciences, where she worked with some of her closest friends. She taught through her illness for as long as she could, never allowing it to stop her from giving her students an opportunity to learn.
Marilyn was a year-round competitive swimmer from an early age. She spent an entire summer in Bogota, Columbia swimming competitively in a summer league. In Palatka, Marilyn served as the assistant and ultimately head coach for the Putnam County Sharks recreational youth swim team and the Palatka High School swim team.
Marilyn enjoyed being outside, laughing, and spending time with her loved ones. In her final years, she enjoyed raising chickens and writing a memoir. As a family of five, the Reids took many trips out west, and after the girls left home, she and Jim continued to travel. They enjoyed trips to Idaho, the Blue Ridge Mountains, Dillard, Georgia, and special trips to visit Haley in Pennsylvania and Carley in Illinois.
The thing she loved most was being a mom to her girls. She was proud of each of them for the paths they’d chosen. She will be eternally missed by her family.
She is preceded in death by her mother Margaret (Pooley) Maurer, father Theobald Maurer, and brother, Teddy Maurer.
Marilyn is survived by her husband Jim, daughters Tara, Haley, Carley, grandson Lafayette, and her siblings: Colleen Goff, Thomas Maurer, Donna Goodson, Billy Maurer, and Valerie Lazzara.
A Celebration of Life will be held on Friday, November 20, 2026, 10 am visitation and 11 am service with Pastor Anthony Arias officiating, at the Johnson-Overturf Funeral Home 307 S Palm Ave, Palatka, FL 32177.
Flowers are appreciated or memorial donations may be made to Samaritans Purse or the Tunnels to Towers Foundation.
Memories and condolences may be expressed to the family at Marilyn’s Book of Memories page at www.j-ofunerals.com.
Arrangements are entrusted to Johnson-Overturf Funeral Home in Palatka.