Marlie Hamilton passed away on Thursday, November 5, 2026, at home surrounded by family and friends.

Marlie Joy Hamilton was born July 2, 1975, in Whittier, California to Marion and Rosalie (Shockley) Langley. As a young child, she moved with her family to Colby, Kansas where she graduated from Colby High School. She eventually made her home in Salina, Kansas. She worked in the Early Education Center at the Salina Family YMCA for nearly 25 years as well as a sales associate for Walmart. In July 2017, she married Charles Hamilton.

Famed educator Rita Pierson said, “Every child deserves a champion; an adult who will never give up on them, who understands the power of connection, and insists they become the best that they possibly can be.” Miss Marlie embodied this every day in her work with children. She dedicated her life to working and advocating for young children. She believed in their potential when others would have given up. She enjoyed staying connected with her kids and their families throughout the years to see the path their lives took, knowing she played a small part in their journey.

As a member of Living World International Ministries, Marlie was also a devoted servant of God. She lived as an example of his shining greatness every day. This was evident in how she always saw the good in others.

Marlie touched the lives of everyone around her. She brought joy to all those who knew her. Her legacy will live on in those who were fortunate enough to know her.

Marlie was proceeded in death by her parents, Rosalie and Marion Langley as well as her grandparents, Charles and Mabel Langley and Jack and Flora Shockley.

She is survived by her husband, Charles, her stepdaughters, Cassie Jones, Reagan Hamilton, and Makayla Cox, grandchildren, Kyrie Hamilton, Ayden Bosquez, Khamilah Watson, Sylvie Cox and Scarlett Cox, her half-sister Patricia Langley, her aunt Jeannie Sheen along with numerous extended family members.

Funeral services will be held Friday, November 13, 2026, at 10 am at Ryan Mortuary followed by burial at Gypsum Hill Cemetery. Visitation will be held Thursday, November 12 from 4-8 at Ryan Mortuary.

To assist the family with medical bills, contributions may be made directly to the Marlie Hamilton Memorial Fund at First Bank Kansas. To help establish a permanent educational legacy honoring Marlie’s life work, memorial gifts may be made to Greater Salina Community Foundation (P.O. Box 2876, Salina, KS 67401) with In Memory of Marlie Hamilton in the memo line to fund a future scholarship.