Margery Grace Davis

Margery Grace Davis was a natural leader whose winning presence allowed her to take control of various situations with ease. Equipped with a clear and calculating focus, she possessed a tough-minded, “take charge” attitude. She had the ability to make even routine situations seem exciting, and she was at ease with the role of playing problem solver. Margery always sought out the scene of where the action was. Sociable, analytical and pleasant, Margery was an individual who enjoyed life’s challenges.

Margery was born on September 14, 1919 in the house her father had built in Morrin, Alberta, Canada. Her parents were Ray and Ella (Carrell) Lawson. Margery was raised in Morrin and Drumheller, Alberta, Canada and then Bickleton and Buena, Washington. Always able to express herself well, Margery possessed strong interpersonal skills. She was optimistic in her outlook on life and was able at all times to be open and direct in her communication. Armed with a great wit, Margery was raised to be accepting of others and to implement a strong personal work ethic.

Blessed with a balanced attitude, Margery was able to relate well with others. Her occasional role as family mediator gave her the opportunity to ease tense situations when they occurred. Margery was raised with four siblings. Her oldest sister was Marla, brother Harland "Tom", Sister Ethlyn, and younger sister Dorothy. Margery had a strong desire to be treated fairly and would readily offer others the same fairness in return.

As a young child, Margery showed her creative ability in many ways. She was outgoing and animated. Margery enjoyed new activities and pursued a variety of interests. In her spare time she liked horseback riding, fishing and being outdoors!

Known to others as a focused, logical, open-minded and somewhat driven individual, Margery was able to utilize these qualities to succeed in high school. Her curious nature was spurred by her ability to maximize her personal learning style through employing a hands-on approach. She was good with facts and had an excellent memory. She graduated from Walla Walla High School in Walla Walla, Washington in 1939. She enjoyed some courses more than others, having favorite classes and teachers.

Friends and acquaintances found Margery an easy woman to get to know, and those close to her would often praise her open, practical style of communication and relaxed approach to life in general. Margery was uncomplicated and straightforward in her relationships, which allowed her to accept people for what they were. When Dad was in the Air force, they became friends with Doug and Wilma Wright and Jack and Iva Dell Bournard. Later in life, she became friends with Dorothy and Gordon French, Bob and Mona Ayer.

On July 14, 1941 Margery exchanged wedding vows with Mark Francis Davis at the Christian Church of Lewiston, Idaho. Margery was attentive to Mark's feelings, and she charmed Mark and others with her gift for being able to give freely and generously. A good listener with an engaging personality, Margery was able to bring pleasure and unexpected humor to the relationship.

Very much like a kid herself, Margery identified with the inquisitive and creative side of her children’s personalities. She was able to direct her energy and spontaneity towards helping her children acquire added common sense skills. Margery was blessed with three children, two sons, Mark and Steven, and one daughter Kathy. They were also blessed with five granddaughters and four great grandchildren, Sherilyn, Kristin, Danielle, Ashley and Shauna and great grandchildren Mark, Brennan, Ethan and Madison.

Margery was a flexible worker who was able to draw the best from others around her. A persuasive individual who was quick to make necessary decisions, Margery’s strengths included being able to think on her feet. She could be a leader who sought impact for her decisions. Gifted with an incredible ability to read body language, Margery was able to positively manipulate situations and motivate others in order to get a task completed. She was a good negotiator who enjoyed new challenges. Margery could multi-task, and she was endowed with entrepreneurial spirit, allowing her to think beyond standard norms when it came to resolving issues in her work environment. She babysat the Brandt children in her home until we were all of school age, then she worked for the Seattle School District in the kitchen of a Junior High School and then as a custodian when she retired.

Margery enjoyed her leisure time by taking part in various hobbies. She had something of an artistic flair in many of the things that she did. She put this creativity toward all of her pastimes. Her favorite pursuits were anything outdoors like hunting, fishing, hiking, water skiing, snow skiing, clam digging, ice and roller skating. She was content to enjoy her hobbies alone but was also willing to share her interests with others.

Because she liked to take risks, Margery was a perfect match for athletics and exercise. She was enthusiastic and confident about these activities. Margery was also something of a sports fan and enjoyed watching her favorite events whenever she got the opportunity. Tops on her list was Seahawks Football!

Margery held close traditional values and as a result, faith was important to her. She was a member of the West Seattle Christian Church.

Travel and vacations were experiences that Margery truly enjoyed. She preferred to seek out excitement wherever she went and she was partial to vacations that were casual and laid back with an atmosphere of “live and let live.” She was willing to leave her plans open and flexible, just in case something more interesting came along. Favorite vacations included Hawaii and all of the trips with and to visit her grandchildren and great grandchildren and BMW Rally trips.

Margery was a lover of animals and cherished her pets. Her home always had cats and dogs or both, all too many to name.

Margery passed away on August 20, 2010 at her home in West Seattle, Washington. Margery fought a brave battle against cancer. She is survived by her children Mark, Steven and Kathy; her granddaughters Sherilyn, Kristin, Danielle, Ashley and Shauna, her great grandchildren Mark, Brennan, Ethan and Madison. Services were held at the Chapel at Forest Lawn Funeral Home, Seattle, Washington. Margery was laid to rest with her loving husband Mark F. Davis, in the care of Tahoma National Cemetery, Kent, Washington.

Margery was the kind of person who could win others over easily. A concrete communicator, she relied on her senses to increase her involvement and awareness of others. She was always able to provide amusing repartee to her friends and acquaintances, offering a seemingly endless supply of quips, anecdotes, jokes and stories. If Margery had a theme song written about her, it might well have been “Don’t Worry, Be Happy.” She enjoyed her life and the experience of living it. This is how everyone will remember Margery Grace Davis.