Marilyn Graf called every mother in town “mom,” but according to several family members, friends and acquaintances, she was more maternal than anyone in Bow.

Graf, 58, died Monday, Dec. 11, after battling bowel-related illnesses.

Longtime friend and neighbor Mary Beth Walz said Graf dealt with so many children over the years that she couldn’t possibly remember all the mother’s names, so she just called all of them “mom.

“She was a wonderful person. She really was and she will truly be a loss to this community,” said Walz, who has known Graf for 16 years ago.

“Marilyn was one of those people who was always looking to give something to someone else. She was always generous in heart, generous in spirit and generous with her time,” Walz said.

Katie Crabb, one of Graf’s best friends, said she was the most loving and giving person to everyone she met, and always made sure to include her family and friends.

“She always had a unique gift with kids and she was able to bend down and make kids feel like they were the most important person in the world,” said Crabb. “I’m truly blessed to have known her and the town is blessed to have had her. She was such a beautiful person and it’s a shame we only had her for such a short time.”

Graf taught at Joyful Noise Preschool at Crossroads Community Church until she left to start Celebrating Children, an independent venture with Colleen Hunter and Cindy Young. The program was so successful the town eventually adopted it as its official preschool program.

But after Graf began to experience health problems several years ago, she left Celebrating Children and initiated preschool athletic programs at Bow Recreation Department, including soccer, lacrosse, floor hockey and tee-ball.v

It was there that Graf truly shined, said Walz.

“She was just really organized and when she taught she knew how to approach things at an age appropriate level,” Walz said. “She consistently found ways to teach that was fun and made kids want to participate. Everything was fun and everything was a good time with her.

“Kids change their mind so quickly, but all they needed was a minute or two with Marilyn to draw them back into a program.”

For instance, Graf would not give children the typical ball used to play lacrosse, but would give them water balloons instead to increase the fun. Moreover, she had a specific color system for the children’s T-shirts in her programs.

On each shirt, the words “Bow Knows” would be printed, a clever takeoff from the 1980s “Bo Knows ...” campaign featuring former multi-sport athlete Bo Jackson. On the backs of the T-shirts, she would take a Sharpie and scrawl the name of each child.

Graf was always giving out Ring Pops and other treats, and had a gift for making crafts, Walz said, and dozens of used ring pops and crafts are probably scattered around the homes of the many children she influenced over the the years.

“Hundreds, if not thousands, of kids who grew up in Bow were taught by Marilyn in one form or another,” said Walz. “She didn’t try to be their mother, but she tried to instill their love and confidence, so every kid would look forward to coming to her activities. She tried to make everyone feel like they could do it and have fun doing it and, from what I’ve heard, she always succeeded,” said Graf’s husband of 21 years, Brian.

Cindy Rose, Bow recreation director, said Graf left a legacy of kindness and fair play.

“For the recreation department and children in the community, she just taught them a real love for playing and gave them a real introduction to sports,” said Rose. “She just loved them all and their families as well.”

While firmly planted within the community, Graf was a dedicated mother and wife as well, Brian Graf said.

“She tried, to the extent possible, to do the same for her kids (Timothy and Lori) when they were interested in something. As long as it was positive, she tried her best to stimulate that interest as well,” he said.

In fact, when her son found a passion for cricket, she helped him start a program shortly thereafter.

Every March, Graf would also coordinate Family Fun Day, an annual fundraiser and indoor carnival at the Bow Community Building.

As if Graf didn’t do enough around town, she was even known for her own catch phrase, “She would always say, ‘Oh, you think so,’ to almost anything anyone ever told her,” said Walz. “That was her.”

On a funny note, Walz said Graf had a legendary fear of snakes and would periodically call and ask her to come down and get snakes out of her pool.

“She was terrified of snakes,” said Brian Graf. “She once had a snake problem at one of her first homes and she couldn’t move out of there fast enough.”

Marilyn Graf was born in Exeter on Sept. 14, 1948. She graduated from Exeter High School in 1966, and from Plymouth State College in 1970, where she played sports and majored in physical education. She taught physical education at Gorham High School and Winnicunnet High School for 15 years, where she coached various teams, including field hockey, softball and track and field.

Graf retired from high school athletics and education to start a family before becoming a preschool teacher.

She was a member of the United Baptist Church in Concord and was active in helping people throughout the community.

The day she went to the hospital, Graf and her husband delivered care baskets to people less fortunate.

“I think, basically, she was all about helping other people and particularly younger children,” said Brian Graf. “It was kind of overwhelming, the amount of parents that came up to me and said how much their kids loved being in her sports programs and no matter what their talent level was she found a way for them to enjoy it.”