Marcie Ann Davenport

A bright light has been extinguished from this earth today, when Marcie Davenport left on her journey to heaven.

Marcie Ann Davenport was born August 31, 1954, in Carbon County, Utah, to Archibald McNair Morrison and Lois Graham Morrison. Archie and Lois moved their family to Bowie, Colorado, and then to Paonia, Colorado. Archie was the superintendent of the US Steel coal mine in Somerset. Marcie entered the first grade and attended school in Paonia, where she made lifelong friends. In September 1968, when Marcie was fourteen, her father was killed in a roof fall in the mine. Marcie was the oldest daughter, and her mother relied on Marcie to care for her five younger brothers and sisters. The family remained in Paonia for two years and relocated to Provo, Utah, the summer before Marcie's senior year of high school.

Marcie loved music, had a beautiful voice, and was a pretty good piano and flute player. She also excelled in designing and sewing her own clothes. Marcie excelled her entire life at making friends and building and maintaining relationships.

After graduating from high school, Marcie was one of the original real-world members when she moved to Aspen with six friends. Seven friends lived in two-thirds of a single-wide trailer in the infamous Smuggler Trailer Park, working various jobs and finding that they needed to go to college, so they did not have to work that hard.

Marcie received her associate degree in fashion merchandising and marketing from LDS Business College in Salt Lake City, then served her mission in Adelaide, Australia, and cherished the friendships she began there and continued until her passing.

Marcie married Marc James and they had four children: Matthew, Robert, Patrick, and Kylie. During their marriage she ran a successful daycare and preschool business in her home so she could stay home with her children. The marriage ended, and Marcie relocated to Delta, Colorado. She and her high-school sweetheart, Steve Shuss, rekindled their romance and married. Steve brought his son Andy to the family, and they lived many happy years together. Marcie worked several jobs while in Delta — with real estate companies at first, passing her real estate exam on the first try. At the same time she took over a children's singing and dancing group called “Sunshine Generation,” building it up to fifty children. She also worked for the local newspaper, the Delta County Independent. Going to the grocery store with Marcie took longer than one would imagine, as Marcie had so many friends that visiting was a prerequisite. Marcie's first round with cancer began while she was in Delta. She endured chemotherapy and radiation treatments and was cancer free. Steve's sudden death left Marcie to care for her two youngest children until they finished high school.

Marcie found love again with Jon Davenport. They married and Marcie and Jon relocated to St. George, Utah. Her family grew with the addition of Jon's children, and grandchildren that Marcie cherished. Jon changed jobs and they moved to Illinois and eventually Virginia. While in Virginia, Marcie and Jon began their career with Aflac and enjoyed great success, Marcie again making lifelong relationships with co-workers and church members. Marcie was on her own as Jon unexpectedly died. Marcie moved to Seguin, Texas to take care of Jon's mother, Carrie, and the two bonded in their grief. 

Marcie's mother, Lois, living in West Valley City, suffered a stroke. Once again Marcie relocated to her mother's home to care for Lois. Marcie was diagnosed with metastatic breast cancer that was in several locations in her bones. She faced the cancer and, although she would not be cancer free, she demonstrated her resilience and recovered to care for her mother until her death. At 65, and having recovered from four bedridden months, she started a short-term rental business with her daughter Kylie. She had always said she wanted to be an entrepreneur with residual income. She was very proud of accomplishing that dream. 

She was a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Marcie was called to serve in almost every leadership opportunity in the Church, and she served with enthusiasm and joy. She has always had a strong testimony of the Savior Jesus Christ as our Savior and Redeemer. Marcie's greatest calling has been the relationships she has formed with friends and family. Another form of cancer came to Marcie, but after extensive surgery she was free from that cancer and infections. 

Marcie leaves son Matthew (Merrin) James of Georgia, Robert (Laura) James of Salt Lake City, Patrick (Sarah) James of Vineyard, and Kylie (Charlie) Hernandez of Salt Lake City; Andy (Tara) Shuss of Walden, Colorado; Megan (Mike) Reyes of Texas, Eric (Brittany) of Texas, Jen (Aubrey) of California, and Lexie Davenport of Utah; Twenty grandchildren and step-grandkids. Also surviving Marcie are her brothers and sisters: David (Joyce) Morrison, Scott (Penny) Morrison, Lisa (Russ) Mecham, James (Dede) Morrison, Jennifer (Mel) Green, and Stephanie (George) Tucker.

Funeral services for Marcie will be held on Saturday, November 21st at 10:00 AM at 1361 East 4000 South, Salt Lake City, Utah 84124.