RODNEY LUFKIN DAVENPORT, JR.
1944 ~ 2009

Rodney Lufkin Davenport, Jr., age 64, passed away peacefully Thursday, Feb. 19, 2009, in Paradise, CA. He was born in Seattle , WA to Rodney Lufkin and Dorothy Mae Cox Davenport on August 4, 1944.

He moved to Lehi, UT at the age of 15 and graduated from Lehi High School in 1962. Rodney served an LDS mission to Switzerland where he was able to touch many lives with his firm testimony of our Savior. His mission experience helped strengthen him spiritually for his many leadership callings within the LDS church, the latest being the Chico Stake Patriarch. After returning from his mission he met and fell in love with Venetta Morrill, whom he married November 23, 1966 in the Salt Lake LDS Temple. Rodney went on to finish his degree from Brigham Young University in 1972 and utilized his education to work in municipal finance for over 25 years, which brought him to the Town of Paradise from Tracy, CA. Family was extremely important to Rodney.

He was a wonderful father. He was blessed to realize his dream of having a large family as attested by the 11 children and 20 grandchildren that graced his life. Rodney is preceded in death by his mother, Dorothy Mae Cox and his step-mother, LaRee Gray. He is survived by his wife, Venetta and his 11 children: Alicia (Spencer) Grant, Kyra (Whitney) Hall, Krista (Dan) Anderson, Ryan (Jenny) Davenport, Annelisa (Doug) Hales of Utah, Diana (Andy) Anderson of WA, Clarissa (Doug) Young, Rodney (Kasey) Davenport, Royce (Sarah) Davenport, Randall Davenport, and Celia Davenport of CA. He is also survived by his father and six siblings, all who reside in Utah .

A visitation will be held Wednesday, Feb. 25, 2009, from 4-8 p.m. at the Rose Chapel Funeral Home, 6382 Clark Road , Paradise, CA. Funeral Services will be held Thursday, February 26, 2009 at 1:00 p.m. at the Buschmann LDS Chapel, 1045 Buschmann Road, Paradise, CA, with viewing one hour prior to the service. Burial will be Saturday, Feb. 28, 2009 in Grover, UT.