Catherine Ann Davenport
August 11, 1931 – February 13, 2013
A gift to Lake Shore for 53 years
From its very beginning, Catherine embodied the welcoming spirit of Lake Shore Baptist Church. She died at home early on a Wednesday morning — a day that was always full for her from the time she first walked into the kitchen for Meals on Wheels until the last dish was put away after Wednesday night supper.
The lives of Burl and Catherine and their five children —- Karen, Lynn, Tracy, Terri, and Mays — are woven into the fabric and memory of our church. A charter member of Lake Shore, Catherine became financial secretary in 1985 and added the role of administrative secretary in 1994, a position she kept until 2003. After her retirement she continued to serve as Meals on Wheels coordinator, Wednesday night supper coordinator, Care Group leader, deacon, Food Pantry volunteer, Food Ministry Team leader, mission trip participant, Bereshith class member, Missions Tree coordinator, Missions Table member, Shalom covenant group member, Fellowship Committee member, cookbook editor, and dear friend.
To all of us — wherever we are, whatever our generation — Catherine was an unrepeatable treasure and an example of what it meant to live “God’s kind of love.” She was signature Lake Shore. We will miss her more than we can say. With hearts grateful for the chance to learn about church from Catherine Davenport, we claim God’s eternal peace for her.
Obituary
Catherine Ann Osborne Davenport, 81, of Waco passed away peacefully Wednesday, February 13, 2013, at her home. A memorial service celebrating her life was held on Sunday, February 17, at Lake Shore Baptist Church with Rev. Sharlande Sledge and Rev. Dorisanne Cooper officiating. Catherine was born August 11, 1931 to Laura Higginbotham and Edward Mays Osborne in Plainview, Texas. After high school Catherine moved to the Waco area to attend Baylor University in 1949. She graduated from Baylor in 1953 and was soon married to her sweetheart, Burl Davenport, May 29, 1954, in Plainview. Catherine and Burl had five children: Karen, Lynn, Tracy, Terri, and Mays. She is the beloved “Momma C” for 17 grandchildren and one great-grandchild. Her family was the center of her life.
Always ready to mark a special occasion, Catherine celebrated dozens of birthdays and holidays with her family. Hospitality was her gift, and the home where the Davenports lived for 51 years provided an open, welcoming space through which she shared meals at the family table, food from her kitchen for those who needed care, and gatherings with friends. She spent hours working in her yard which was a source of pride and joy to her. The backyard, with its trampoline and wide open space, was the best place in the world for her children and grandchildren to play, the setting for a granddaughter’s recent wedding, and the place for church ice cream socials for 44 years. Catherine lived a life of service to the community. She was president of Hillcrest Elementary PTA and Richfield High PTA and a State and National Life member of PTA. Catherine served on the boards of Camp Fire, Evangelia, Waco City Council PTA, and Young Life. She was recipe coordinator for Homecoming: Special Foods, Special Memories, the cookbook published by the Baylor University Alumni Association.
As a young couple, the Davenports helped begin a new church in the Mountainview neighborhood in 1959. They were two of the 225 charter members of Lake Shore Baptist Church. For the past 53 years, their family’s lives have been woven into the fabric, memory, and mission of Lake Shore. Catherine became financial secretary in 1986 and added the role of administrative secretary in 1994, a position she held until 2003. After her retirement she continued to serve as Meals on Wheels coordinator, Wednesday night supper coordinator, Care Group coordinator and leader, deacon, Food Pantry volunteer, Food Ministry Team leader, Bereshith Sunday School class member, Missions Tree coordinator, Missions Table member, Shalom covenant group member, Soup Supper leader, Fellowship Committee member, church cookbook editor, and dear friend. She cherished her mission trips to New York City. Catherine was a model of Christian hospitality and a constant presence in the church kitchen, who nurtured the congregation both through her cooking and her welcoming presence.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Laura and Mays Osborne. Catherine is survived by her husband of 58 years, Burl Davenport; daughters Karen Smith and husband, Andy, of Hillsboro; Lynn Stumberg and husband, B.G., of Helena, Montana; Tracy Gonzales and husband, Mike, of Brenham; and Terri Porter and husband, Greg, of Kempner; a son, Mays Davenport and wife, Lauren, of Prosper; grandchildren, Benjamin, Colin, and Patrick Smith; Bekah Taylor and husband, Nate; Catie, Beau, Caleb, and Josh Stumberg; Ana Parker and husband, Watson; Maggie and Lee Gonzales; Sarah and Rachel Porter; Pearson, Aubrey, Logan, and Lucas Davenport; great-grandchild, Liam Gonzales; siblings Ethel Ramsower and husband, Rex, William Osborne and wife, Jean, and Margaret Rathkamp and husband, Vernon; and numerous cousins, nieces and nephews. Memorials may be made to the benevolence and ministry funds at Lake Shore Baptist Church or to Meals on Wheels. The family would like to thank the Lake Shore family for their expressions of care.