Emilee Ribbach

Marlayne Milner Ribbach

A memorial service will be held for Marlayne Milner Ribbach on Wednesday, September 8, 2021 at 1:00 p.m. at the First United Methodist Church in Roswell.  Marlayne went home to be with her Lord on Friday, September 3, 2021.

Emilee Marlayne was born December 20, 1934 at St. Mary’s Hospital in Roswell, New Mexico to Willis H. (Pete) and Millicent (Millie) Milner.  After graduating from Roswell High School in 1953 and from Western New Mexico University in 1959, she worked for Diamond A Cattle Company in Roswell.

Marlayne met John “Jack” Ribbach while he was stationed at Walker Air Force Base in Roswell, and they married in 1961.  When Walker AFB closed in 1966, Jack and Marlayne and their young son, Mark, transferred to Minot Air Force Base in Minot, North Dakota.  Marlayne continued her education there and received a post graduate degree in Library Sciences from Minot State University in 1968, and served as base librarian at Minot AFB.  After 11 years in Minot, they transferred to Plattsburg, New York until Jack’s retirement from the

Air Force in 1976.  They moved back to Roswell and Marlayne returned to work for Diamond A Cattle Company for another 20 years.

For many years Marlayne was a devoted member of the First United Methodist Church and was active in the Chancel Choir, Silver Chords and the Searchers Sunday School class.  She was a member of Beta Sigma Phi sorority, the AI Chapter of PEO, Assistance League of Chaves County, and the 1941 Book Club.  Together Marlayne and Jack enjoyed square dancing, boating, bowling, spending time at their cabin in Ruidoso, and many travels in their RV with their Cactus Sam’s friends.  Marlayne had a lifelong passion for reading, and enjoyed needlework, playing dominoes with her friends, and walking, and she received much joy from her beloved dogs, Kaylee and Abby.  Above all, her son, Mark, was the light of her life.

Marlayne was an example of what a friend, a daughter and a parent should be, and she improved the lives of those who knew her.  To her family and her many friends, she was generous with her love and her time, and the last person she ever thought about was herself.

Marlayne was preceded in death by her parents, her husband Jack Ribbach, her brother Wayne Milner, and her nephew Chris Milner.  She is survived by her son, Mark Ribbach of Newport Beach, CA, sister-in-law Linda Ribbach of Minneapolis, MN, and sister-in-law Zoe Ann Milner of Roswell. She is also survived by nieces Melissa (Mark) Proctor and Pamela (James) Schultz, nephew Steven Milner, great-nieces and nephews

Michela (Ryan) Heth, Madison Proctor, Caryn Snow, Michael (Holly) Schultz, Kristen (Josh) Downs and Rebecca Schultz, and numerous great-great nieces and nephews.

The family wishes to express their appreciation to Dr. Peter Jewell for his compassionate care and most especially to Rosana Grejeda for her kindness and devotion.

At her request, Marlayne’s cremains will be interred alongside those of her husband in the First United Methodist Church Columbarium.

Memorial donations may be made either to the Cowboy Bell Scholarship or to the music department at First United Methodist Church of Roswell.