Margaret "Margie" Lee Davis
Please join us Sunday by Zoom meeting if you would like. The link is below.
https://zoom.us/j/9978652041?pwd=HabsSw77uVJiznfmcx978XJ9JbrHzf.1&omn=92288381460
Meeting ID: 997 865 2041
Passcode: 898984
Margaret Lee Davis (Margie) was born on July 30, 1950, and passed from this life on March 18, 2025. Margie was named after both of her parents, Margaret Ella Brixey Davis and Otis Lee Davis. Because she was born the day before her mother’s birthday, her mother always said Margie was the best birthday gift she ever received. Margie was the second of three daughters, with her older sister Connie Rae and her younger sister Kathy Jean.
Margie grew up on the Davis family farm near Marshfield, Missouri, and spent some years living in Harrisonville and Strafford. Margie was a curious and lively child who loved to make her family laugh. She especially enjoyed playing with her cousins and charming her aunts and uncles.
Margie graduated from Marshfield High School in 1968. She loved planning and attending reunions with her classmates. Margie graduated from (Southwest) Missouri State University in 1972 with a degree in History education and a minor in Library Science. In high school she met one of her best friends, Deb Gallion, and in college she met another best friend, Martha Tindle Brooks. Margie was baptized through her home church, Ebenezer United Methodist, and later joined the Marshfield Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) where she loved worshipping with great friends.
For her career, Margie served as an elementary school librarian in Lebanon, Missouri. She cherished working with children and loved her co-workers in Lebanon. Margie was selected as educator of the year at her school. Reading stories to children was a special pleasure for Margie. She has many dear friends from her time in Lebanon.
Her sister Connie married Thomas Edward Byrd (Tom) in 1965, giving her the best brother-in-law ever. She loved being included in the Byrd family. Her role as an aunt was incredibly special to her. Connie and Tom’s three children, Marla Jo, Mark Edward, and Michelle Lee brought joy into her life. Margie delighted in her great nieces and nephews, Marlee (and her husband Tim), Taylor, Emma, Peyton, Alexus, Deja, Amaya, K.J., Oaklee, Case, Layke, and Ariyah. She enthusiastically welcomed Tony Joslin-Lemire, Jennifer’s son, to her roster of nieces and nephews.
Margie was known for her ready smile, her delightful sense of humor, her amazing cooking and baking skills, her family stories, and her generosity. Margie loved finding out someone’s favorite cake or pie and then making it for them. Her angel food and german chocolate cakes were legendary. She never saw a baby she didn’t want to hold.
Margie’s love for her family led her to spend much of her time caretaking. After her father died, Margie moved in with her mother to help her. She drove many aunts and uncles to doctor appointments, helped her sister Kathy recover from surgery, and loved providing childcare for her nieces and nephews as long as she was able.
Margie loved traveling and was able to visit Italy, Alaska, Hawaii, the Caribbean, New York City, Prince Edward Island, Washington, D.C., Richmond, and many other places. She especially loved historical sites such as presidential homes and state capitals. Visiting friends and relatives in their home states was special to her. Margie could make any day fun. In recent years when she didn’t get to travel much, she looked forward to lunch dates with her friends at The Little Clay House, where she charmed all who met her.
In 2019 and 2020, Margie had to have her legs amputated due to peripheral artery disease. Although the doctors said Margie would have to live in a care center, they didn’t know Margie. She worked hard with her physical therapists and developed the skills to go home, live on her own, and even learned to drive her van, Vincent Van Gogh. Just a few days ago she told a cardiologist that she was fiercely independent, and everyone who knew her would agree.
Margie was preceded in death by her beloved parents, Otis and Margaret Davis, her sister Connie and brother-in-law Tom and all her aunts and uncles. She is survived by her sister Kathy Davis and her wife Jennifer Joslin, her niece Marla Cary and her husband Mike, her nephew Mark Byrd, and her niece Michelle Stokes-Byrd and her wife Tarsha, her great nieces and nephews, as well as many treasured cousins and friends.
Visitation for Margie Davis will be from 6 to 7 p.m. on Saturday, March 22 at Fraker Funeral Home in Marshfield. Funeral services will be at Fraker Funeral Home on Sunday, March 23 at 2:30 p.m. She will be laid to rest next to her parents, grandparents, and great grandparents in Ebenezer Cemetery. Donations to the Ebenezer Cemetery Fund can be left in care of the funeral home. If you can come to the visitation or funeral, please wear blue, Margie’s favorite color.
“Do everything in love.”—1 Corinthians 16:14