Marilynn "Annie" Margaret Terrell Katein was born on August 22nd, 1923 to George and Viola (Manley) Terrell in Bridgewater, South Dakota. Her father was a decorated soldier in WWI, who later ran a weekly newspaper. Her younger brother, Timothy, was born 20 years later in 1943. Marilynn grew up in Holdingford, MN, and later moved with her family to Washington, D.C.

After her high school graduation, Marilynn enrolled in St. Mary's Hospital School of Nursing in Minneapolis. She became friends with her classmate Luella Koziol, who would later live with the Terrell family until 1950. Marilynn and Lu worked as nurses at Doctors' Hospital and Walter Reed Army Medical Center. They remained best friends for the next 79 years.

Marilynn served in World War II in the U.S. Nurse Cadet Corps. She later joined the FBI as a nurse, and from there was recruited to the newly formed Central Intelligence Agency.

In 1952, Marilynn administered a health screening to a young and handsome CIA officer named Allen Katein, who was preparing to deploy to Korea. During his time abroad, their love grew despite only being able to correspond via airmail for months at a time. Shortly after his return, they were married on September 4th, 1954 at the Nativity Catholic Church in Washington, D.C. Marilynn was embraced by Allen's family, and she deeply loved her new brothers, sisters, and cousins.

On orders from the CIA, the couple moved to Taiwan from 1955 to 1957 to assist the Republic of China in its struggle against Mao Zedong's communist revolution. They became friends with President Chiang Kai-shek and his wife, Soong. The First Lady gave Marilynn and Allen the gift of a Siamese cat, named "Mao De Bao," one of the many animals they would care for over their lives.

Upon their return, they moved to a small farm in Herndon, VA. Marilynn gave birth to their only daughter, Mary Rosaleen, in September 1963. Years later, Marilynn's mother would move in with them, and adopt the name "Clucky," envisioning herself a hen "clucking" after her precious granddaughter.

Marilynn was deeply active in her Herndon community, especially with its local stray animal population. She worked with various humane society shelters and founded "the Animal Corner" to advertise cats and dogs in need of a home. Any animals that couldn't be adopted were taken in by Marilynn herself. Over the years, she cared for a menagerie of cats, dogs, horses, and foxes.

She was a regular volunteer for St. Joseph's Church and served in the Altar Society. Marilynn joined a sewing group to make baptismal bibs for infants, and regularly drove cancer patients to their medical appointments. Marilynn looked after their spiritual health, as well. As a member of the Nocturnal Adoration Society, she spent many evenings at her parish praying for the wellbeing of others. For her years of service, Marilynn was awarded Herndon's inaugural "Good Neighbor Award" in 2004.

Rosaleen Katein married Thomas Bernier in 1988 and Marilynn was lovingly welcomed into the extended Bernier family. Tom and Rosaleen had a son in 1990. With the birth of John Bernier, Marilynn became a grandmother. Unable to properly pronounce the name "Granny," John redesignated her as "Annie," a title she proudly carried for the rest of her life.

John would spend a week each summer in Herndon, completing his summer book reports and required readings under her more patient supervision, a tradition known as "Camp Annie." She eagerly welcomed the arrival of her second grandson, Christian, in 1993, and her granddaughter, Gabrielle, in 1998.

In August of 2000, her husband, Allen, passed away peacefully in his sleep. In 2004, Marilynn moved in with the Bernier family in Parkton, MD, where she would spend her remaining years surrounded by family.

In Maryland, Annie was a constant presence in the lives of her three grandchildren. She was eternally proud of John, her "young man," Christian, her "wise owl," and Gabrielle, her "little darling." Annie always boasted about their accomplishments, and regularly prayed rosaries and novenas for their success. She was equally devoted to John's wife, Dr. Maria Bellantoni, who served as her unofficial geriatrician. Marilynn lived long enough to attend the wedding of John and Maria in 2018, where she shared one final reunion with Lu Koziol.

Marilynn's Catholic faith remained a foundational pillar throughout her entire life. She prayed the Rosary every day, and always dedicated them to those in need. She kept in constant touch with her friends and family through daily phone calls and letters. On her 98th and final birthday, Marilynn was bombarded with letters from a century's worth of loved ones.

Marilynn passed away on Thursday, October 14th, 2021, with her family by her side. She was preceded in death by her husband, Allen, and her sister-in-law, Noreen Terrell.

The family will receive friends at Peaceful Alternatives Funeral and Cremation Center, 2325 York Road, Timonium, Maryland 21093 on Monday, October 25 from 6-8 PM. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at the Church of the Nativity, 20 East Ridgely Road, Timonium, Maryland 21093 on Tuesday, October 26 beginning at 11 AM. She will be laid to rest, beside Allen, at Quantico National Cemetery (Triangle, Virginia) on Thursday, October 28 at 1 PM.