One fine day in Tulsa, Oklahoma, a true love story began when Marilyn Moore met Howard Meek. The year was 1966, and the car Howard was driving was a 1965 midnight-blue Pontiac GTO. He pulled up next to Marilyn and her friend at a stoplight on Peoria Blvd. and — being the coolest, handsomest guy in Tulsa — was able to convince Marilyn — the coolest, prettiest girl in Tulsa — to proceed to the Gaslight Lounge for red beers and pool. What happened next was the beginning of a lifetime of true love, family devotion, and steadfast commitment.

After a fun evening, they went back to Marilyn’s place where they stayed up talking for hours. They shared a first-kiss moment that can only be described as divine — as if God specifically made their lips to kiss each other’s. This song paints a picture of how special it was to them.

“A Moment Like This” by Kelly Clarkson

What if I told you
It was all meant to be
Would you believe me,
Would you agree
It’s almost that feelin’
That we’ve met before
So tell me that you don’t think I’m crazy
When I tell you love has come here and now…

A moment like this
Some people wait a lifetime,
For a moment like this
Some people search forever,
For that one special kiss
Oh, I can’t believe it’s happening to me
Some people wait a lifetime,
For a moment like this

Everything changes
But beauty remains
Something so tender
I can’t explain
Well I maybe dreamin’
But ’till I awake
Can we make this dream last forever
And I’ll cherish all the love we share

Could this be the greatest love of all
I wanna know that you will catch me when I fall
So let me tell you this…
Some people wait a lifetime
For a moment like this

Some people wait a lifetime,
For a moment like this
Some people search forever,
For that one special kiss
Oh, I can’t believe it’s happening to me
Some people wait a lifetime,
For a moment like this

After that, their relationship took some fairy-tale twists and turns — much like the movie The Notebook. They had to go their separate ways for a few years, but a popular song at the time, “Someday We’ll Be Together” by Diana Ross & The Supremes, lit up their hearts with faith, love and hope as they promised to look for each other wherever they went. After reuniting at a Supremes concert in Las Vegas, they finally married on May 19, 1971. They remained married for 51 years until Marilyn went to be with the Lord during Orthodox Easter, April 23, 2022.

Howard and Marilyn had five beautiful children — Heather, Kami, Brooke, Lindsey, and Trey — and a phenomenally successful business in the energy sector. The Meek family members were decades-long residents of Corona Del Mar and Newport Beach, California, as well as Kauai, Hawaii from the late 70s to mid-80s. 

Howard and Marilyn made sure to put Jesus Christ at the center of their marriage and family from the outset. This was how their family was able to gratefully receive and enjoy their many blessings, as well as weather and thrive through enormous challenges — challenges all children of God face living in a fallen world full of struggle, sin, trauma and tragedy.

However, God’s beautiful creation and loving Holy Spirit always shine through — and with Jesus as their strength, inspiration and driving force, the Meeks continue to embrace the precious opportunity to live life fully. They each continually persevere in developing and contributing their skills and talents to help bless others’ lives and make the world a better place.

Marilyn joins her beloved son Trey (in heaven since June 2018) and magnificent Jake (Brooke’s husband, in heaven since September 2018) in guiding us until we can all reunite in God’s glory one day. Our family still on earth now also includes:

• Awesome Caleb (Kami’s husband), their wonderful children, Avery and Austin, and their sweet English Cream, Asher
• Lovely Lulu, Lindsey’s loyal and wise Chihuahua
• Amazing Paul (Heather’s husband) and their dearly loving Be-Shih-Shih, Buckley
• Brooke and Jake’s marvelous Maltese-Shih-Tzu Max, and endearing Rhodesian Ridgebacks Sochi and Beau
• And Marilyn and Howard’s adoring Shih-Tzu, Bentley

Keeping our loved ones in heaven company are Kami’s family’s loyal Pomeranian-Chihuahua Kona, delightful mixed-breed Baxter, and Marilyn and Howard’s beloved Maltese, Bailey, and Hungarian Pooley, Gully.

Thank you, Jesus, for our beautiful family.