Donna J. Davenport, age 89 of Marysville, passed away Sunday afternoon at the Bay at Chesterfield.

She was born February 8, 1934 in Detroit and grew up in Highland Park, graduating fro Highland Park High School. She became a transcriptionist and soon married Norman Ross. They bought a beautiful home in Ferndale and they had four daughters, Debra, Lisa, Sandra, and Pamela. Sadly, divorce ensued and as a single mom, Donna returned to secretarial work, sang in the church choir, and was kept busy raising the girls.

Singing with the Chorus in Leonard Bernstein's "Mass" with the Michigan Opera was a dream com true for her. Donna met Russell Davenport at church and he became the love of her life. They married on August 2, 1975 and began a new life with a blended family of 8 children in Royal Oak. Camping with the family was one of their great joys. Donna and Russell, along with their children, also collaborated on a PBS show, "Deadal Doors", which was very popular.

Their life included high school graduations, weddings, and grandchildren, a move to their first retirement home in Anchorville, along with sailing, and researching for a book call "Heritage of Ira Township" published in 1990. They also sang with the New Baltimore Chorus and acted in five plays with the Macomb Community College Performing Arts.

A second retirement home, a 34-foot Bounder RV was their dream come true. Donna loved driving with Russell around the country and Canada, and flew to Scotland and Spain. They settled in California, where they volunteered for the Red Cross and served their church and community.

Donna felt the many blessings in her life in Christ were culminated when they moved back to Michigan and settled in Marysville. They loved going to the River Walk to watch the freighters and they rarely missed attending the celebrations the night before the Port Huron-Mackinac race.

She is survived by her two daughters, Debra and Sandra, Russell's four children, Rene, Peter, Anne, and Mark. Grandchildren, Katherine, Rob, Jesse, Ryan, Eric, Paige, and Alexandra, and two great-grandsons, Gabriel and Blaise.

A funeral mass will be held at 11:00 a.m., (in state 10:30) on Saturday, August 19, 2023 at St. Peter Catholic Church, 95 Market Street, Mount Clemens with Father John Maksym officiating.

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Burial will be at Great Lakes National Cemetery, Holly, Michigan.

Psalm 36:8, 10

How precious is your love, O God

We take refuge in the shadow of your wings

For with you is the fountain of life,

And in your light we see light