- Date Of Birth: December 28, 1936
- Date Of Death: July 2, 2015
- State: Idaho
Lyle Fay Davenport passed suddenly from a heart attack on July 2, 2015, in Boise, Idaho while out driving with his wife.
Lyle was born December 28, 1936, in Popejoy, Iowa, to John Richard and Letha (Christopher) Davenport. He was the fifth boy of six children. He followed his four older brothers into the Air Force and his oversees tour was in the Marshall Islands during the atomic testing in 1958. He was on the rifle team and was honorably discharged in 1960.
He married Marlys Jane (Early) Essman of Dumont, Iowa, on December 29, 1959, in Elizabeth City, North Carolina, while stationed at Langley Air Force Base. They were married for 54 wonderful years. Together, they had a son, Martin J and daughter, Leatha Marie.
Education was his lifelong career. He was a graduate of Iowa Falls High School in 1956 and received his B.A./M.A. in Education from the University of Northern Iowa in 1967, in the areas of Library Science and Social Studies. His first year of teaching was in the New Hartford school system, followed by many years with the Waterloo Community Schools at Longfellow Elementary and Central High School. He retired from the school district in1986. Not to give teaching up entirely, he taught in the inner city schools of Dallas, Texas, from 1989-92, with his wife Marlys.
After raising their family in Cedar Falls, Lyle and Marlys spent their retirement years in Boise, Idaho with his “girls”, with extensive stays in the West Okoboji area; Park Rapids, Minnesota; and in Arizona for the winters.
He will be greatly missed by his wife, Marlys, daughter Leatha M. McKeown and cherished granddaughters Claire Davenport McKeown and Matilda Vorleah McKeown all of Boise, Idaho and former son-in-law, Patrick McKeown. Also surviving are two brothers, Duane (Bettie) and Gayle (Dorothy); sister, Joyce Hoefer (Daryl); sisters-in-law, Mary Ann Davenport and Elaine Davenport; 24 nieces and nephews and their families; and his diverse circle of friends from various walks of life. He was preceded in death by his parents; his two oldest brothers, Richard and Darel Davenport, his dear sister-in-law, Agnes (Essman) Brody; and his beloved son, Martin J Davenport (1961-1977).
“I lived, I loved my family and friends, and I died.” ~Lyle Davenport
