Devona moved to the great quilting club in heaven on February 2, 2018, perhaps because they have an eternal supply of fabric and patterns in the spirit world. She was born July 8, 1933 in Pocatello, Idaho to Clarence and Iriminda Taylor Stephenson, the youngest of six children. She graduated from Pocatello High School and Idaho State College, after which she taught home economics. She married Hal Walter Davis on August 24, 1955 in the Idaho Falls Temple.
The
newlyweds married during Hal’s medical education and lived in France after Hal
volunteered for the Air Force. They
saved up leave time and wages to travel and tent camp across much of Europe,
and continued this family camping tradition for many decades. Redfish Lake was the family favorite.
Devona had
seven children: Stephen (Jan), Kent (Sonja), Doran (Chris), Joni (Boyd Phillips),
Monty (Shelli), Leslie (Earl Fields), and Ruth (Kevin Pickens). All were her favorites, and each was loved
and treasured. She currently has 30
grandchildren, 32 great-grandchildren and at least three more will join her
family this spring. She labored
diligently to tie baby quilts for each new child. Each grandchild chose quilting fabric and the
quilt pattern of their choice for wedding gifts. In reality, she used love as fabric,
dedication as thread, and the gospel of Jesus Christ as the pattern. These quilts will be eternally treasured.
Devona was
completely dedicated to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and
served diligently in many callings including ward and stake relief society
president, primary president, and ordinance worker in the Idaho Falls Temple. She was ward organist for six decades, and
passed her musical passion on to all of her children. Her favorite church calling was Cub Scout den
leader, and her cubs are all still her boys.
Devona has
always been a dedicated missionary and was very successful as a district
missionary in France. She spent a total
of five years on full-time missions with Hal, including Durban, South Africa,
Vietnam, and Boston, Massachusetts. Not
long before her death she gave a personalized set of LDS scriptures to her
neighbor.
She loved
her time with the Patchwork Quilt Club, the Idaho Falls Music Club, the Idaho
Falls Medical Auxiliary, and many PTAs.
She “adopted” many needy souls and lovingly served them however she
could. Valentine’s Day will never be the
same without her individualized cards, each with a crisp, new $2 bill.
She was preceded in death by her
parents, siblings Eldred, Delbert, Melvin, and Donna, leaving only her sister,
Margie Clark, behind.
Devona’s funeral will be on
Wednesday, February 7, 2018 at 11 AM in the Idaho Falls Stake
Center, 1155 First St., in Idaho Falls.
Viewing will be from 6 to 8 PM Tuesday evening, February 6th
at Coltrin Mortuary and from 10:00-10:45 AM preceding the funeral at the
church. Interment will be at Fielding
Memorial Park Cemetery in Idaho Falls. We love and miss our sweet grandma!
