Doretta Davenport

JERSEYVILLE - Doretta May (Stewart) Davenport, 78, on Sunday April 23rd at 7:55pm in Jerseyville Nursing and Rehabilitation in Jerseyville, Illinois, surrounded by her husband, children, grandchildren and loved ones singing hymns and songs of praise left these prison bars of flesh to join a heavenly choir. She will blend her sweet voice with voices far sweeter than any heard here on Earth.

Born in rural Nebo, Illinois on July 22, 1938, Doretta was the fifth child of Harold Everett and Chloe Edith Deardeuff Stewart. She was preceded in death by her parents and three sisters - Frieda Pauline Rodhouse (of Pleasant Hill), Verna Lea Stewart (an infant) and Norma Jean Dyer (of Nebo). A “Daddy’s girl” growing up in Pike County, she loved the outdoors - fishing with bare hands, walking creek beds in bare feet. She witnessed the birth of many an animal and developed a strong nurturing instinct.

Faith was a key part of her upbringing. Her maternal grandmother was a street preacher. Once, while playing hide and seek with her cousins, she fell down a cliff and hit her head. She walked a quarter-mile home and there she laid unconscious for three days. They didn’t go to the doctor - mother prayed. At age 17 she moved to Jerseyville to help care for her aging Grandma Deardeuff and there she finished out her senior year at Jersey Community High School. After graduating, Doretta gained employment in the mailroom at Olin, advancing to the Blueprint Department and finally Quality Assurance.

On March 27, 1970 she married her best friend, Gary L. Davenport and served as a home-maker until 1979 when she went to work in the Accounting Department at Roper Plastics and after they closed as a part-time Administrative Assistant at Hedges Chiropractic. Loving God and service to others was the central theme and the passion of her life. A member of Gospel Assembly Church, the Doretta was a Sunday School Teacher in Jerseyville for decades where she taught the same faith in Christ that had and continued to sustain her. Many of the young people in her classes grew to be her church family - a family that brought her much joy all throughout her life. She was a lover of music and her beautiful voice could be heard in multiple groups at her church - usually the part of high tenor. She was also a member of the church band starting out with clarinet but finding trombone the most fun. Doretta was creative, talented, compassionate, unselfish and patient.

Together with Gary, she raised a son Michael Leon Davenport (Hope) and a heart-daughter Rebecca Jane Davenport Myers (Timothy). She derived the greatest joy being a grandmother to eight grandchildren; Jacob Timothy Myers, Sarah Elizabeth Myers Wilson (Gary), Mikah Christian Davenport, Judah Daniel Davenport, Phoebe Elizabeth Davenport, Moriah Grace Davenport, Moses Benjamin Davenport, Haven Lael Davenport and a great-grandson Braden James Myers - all of Jerseyville. Also surviving is a sister, Irma Joyce Harpole (Dale) of Jerseyville, numerous cousins, nieces, nephews and friends. She spread sunshine everywhere she went and was loved by many.

Visitation will be held in Jerseyville at 11am, Saturday, April 29, 2017 at Gospel Assembly Church - 601 June Street, followed by a Celebration of Life service at 1pm. Memorials may be made to Jerseyville Estates in Jerseyville, Illinois where she received care worthy of such an exemplary person for last six months.Crawford Funeral Home in Jerseyville is in charge of arrangements. 

Obit Provided By:
Crawford Funeral Home