Eula Fern (Sillyman) Davenport, 78, daughter of Charles Sillyman and Iva (Gordon) Sillyman, was born Feb. 27, 1937, in Bucyrus, Mo. She passed away Nov. 26, 2015, at Landmark Hospital in Columbia, Mo., after complications from a stroke suffered in May. Fern was preceded in death by her parents; five half-sisters, Opal Hinkle, Juanita King, Edna Mae Sillyman, Bessie Sillyman, and Delta Giddens; two half-brothers, Leonard Sillyman and Billie Sillyman; a son, Larry Wayne Davenport; a granddaughter Justina Davenport.
She is survived by one brother, Charles Ray Sillyman and his wife, Donna, of Wichita, Kan.; a son, Jerry Lynn Davenport of Arizona; a daughter, Claralene Ann Pospisil and her husband, David, of Sedalia, Mo.; six grandchildren, Mickel Davenport, Chris Davenport, Brandi Davenport, Mindy Davenport, Lindsey Pospisil, and Deanna Pospisil; and a number of in-laws in the Houston area.
Fern was born in a house with a dirt floor and was delivered by W.T. Sillyman, her grandfather. She graduated the eighth grade from Ellis Prairie. She lived in Success for many years. She would often tell stories about what it was like growing up as a country girl. It was rough sometimes and they were poor, but there was always enough. For Christmas one year she got one bottle of fingernail polish and she was happy with that. She would sometimes hide her stockings in a log on the way to school because she didn’t like having to wear them.
She was married to Clarence Edward Davenport on April 18, 1951, and again on Nov. 27, 1971.
Fern lived in Houston and worked at the shoe factory for six years. She later moved to Kansas City and worked at Montgomery Wards Credit Department for 15 1/2 years. She moved to Warsaw in 1982 and worked at the Osage Country House for 2 1/2 years and the Warsaw Health Care Center for 3 ½ years and then retired.
She was a member of the American Legion Ladies Auxiliary in Warsaw, where she volunteered and made many friends. Fern enjoyed watching “The Walton’s,” “Little House on the Prairie,” westerns and suspense movies. She enjoyed fishing, float trips and visiting the Harry S. Truman State Park, where she would have picnics by the log cabin.
She was an excellent cook and everyone loved her fried chicken and pies. She liked listening to country music and dancing.
She loved her house in Warsaw and had a great view of the lake where she would spend time on her back porch watching boats go by. Fern and her sister-in-law, Nina, would have friendly competitions to see who could find the best Avon bottles for their collections. Family members would tease her by rearranging her knick- knacks and refrigerator magnets, as she knew where they all belonged. It was tradition for her to wave goodbye to everyone from her front porch.
Services were 2 p.m. Monday, Nov. 30, 2015, at Evans Funeral Home with Pastor Ted Moore officiating. Burial was in Emery Cemetery under the direction of Evans Funeral Home. Pallbearers were David Pospisil, Jerrad Triplett, Rob Gunter, Richard Gunter, Roger Martin and Jason Martin.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorials to Emery Cemetery. Online condolences may be sent to www.evansfh.com.
PAID