Marilyn Kothmann Perry was born January 11, 1940 to Gleasen Kothmann and Ruby (Donop) Kothmann and grew up on a ranch just outside of Llano, Texas. She attended and graduated from the Llano Public Schools in 1957, and then attended Southwest Texas State University, now Texas State University. She received her bachelor’s degree in elementary education in 1960, and later her master’s degree and mid-management certification from the same university.