Marie was born March 25, 1921, in Francis, Okahoma. She was the fourth of eight children born to Thomas Lee and Nettie Selena Stephens. When Marie was three, her Dad packed the family in a wagon and began the journey to Henryetta, Oklahoma. The family forded streams and traveled rough and rugged roads to reach their destination. Thomas was able to find work at the Smelter near Henryetta, but housing was short or non-existent. So the family lived in a tent until Nettie could find a home for her children. Marie was an excellent student and was double promoted from 2nd to 3rd grade, completing her senior year with only two subjects.
After graduation, Marie joined the war effort by becoming “Rosie the Riveter” at Douglas Aircraft. She was a young girl entering the workforce for the first time, and trained to do what had been historically a man’s job. Her small 5ft. 1 inch, 110 pound frame fit easily into the tight places of the plane, and she kept up with the best of them. Marie helped build the last B-24 bomber in 1945.
In 1944, she spotted Orville, her future husband, walking on 15th and Boston in Tulsa in front of her apartment. She pointed her finger at the unsuspecting Orville and said “See that guy. He’s mine”, and she was right. Marie and Orville were married on March 31, 1945, in Muskogee.
Marie is survived by three children: Stephen and Leslie Davenport of Cleveland, Gwendolyn Cook of Woodward, and Sherry and Richard Dazey of Kentucky; six grandchildren: Jacquelyn Howard, Jennifer Davenport, Jessica Winkle, Cynthia Allen, Pamela Meadows, and Mark Dazey; numerous great-grandchildren, and great, great grandchildren; and sister Selena Ruth Parenti.
She was preceded in death by her husband Orville, daughter Linda Davenport, granddaughter Kimberly Botts, four brothers, and two sisters.
Marie passed away Monday, July 4, 2016, in Enid The funeral for Marie Stephens Davenport, age 95, will be held at 11:00 AM Saturday, July 9, 2016, at Integrity Funeral Home in Henryetta. Burial will be in Westlawn Cemetery.
