In November 1922 a tiny little girl was born to Carrie and Albert Davenport in the small community of Platteville, Colorado. She was named Lura Elnora Davenport, after a relative, and promptly nicknamed Margie after the song “My little Margie”. Until her adult years she did not even know her birthname was different. When still a young child her family moved to Chester, Nebraska to care for her ailing grandfather. While still a senior in high school her older brother moved to Portland Oregon and was employed by the new WPA. Jobs were hard to come by and Albert decided to take advantage of the opportunity for employment and move his family to Portland. Margie never considered herself an intellect and was concerned about her ability to finish high school in a far-off place. One of Carrie’s sisters offered to keep Margie at her home until after graduation. Everyone agreed that would be a good idea. After graduating from high school at the age of 17 years, her Aunt put her on a bus headed for Portland. Margie had never ridden public transportation so it was a big and rather frightening adventure for her. Just before the bus entered the Columbia River Gorge, she fell asleep and awoke as the bus passed through the narrow winding passage. She saw the beauty and was in awe. Never did she look back. Her love for the mountains of Oregon never waned. In August of 1942 she married William C. (Harold) Kitchen in Gresham, Oregon. When Harold had to go to war, she found employment at the Oregon Shipyards as a welder. She was tiny so able to fit in tight spaces. Consequently, she was called upon to work in the very tightest quarters of the ship. Her work ethic was very well formed and when bullies tried to require her to do shoddy work or be fired, she staged a one person strike in order to prevent a poorly made vessel that could break apart when it carried her husband home from the war. In spite of the immense pressure, she persevered and won the battle, likely saving the lives of many.
After the war was over, she and Harold purchased 15 acres and an old house on Phelps Road in Sandy Oregon. In order to reach their new home, they had to pass a lovely home and acreage. It always drew them to it and after many years they were able to purchase that home where they lived for the next 60 years.
Marge was known as a loving person. She and Harold raised 4 children and after many years of lovingly working with youth they added a foster daughter.
Over the years she and Harold were involved as youth directors at their church. Because of the loving and respectful approach teens experienced, they dubbed the couple Ma and Pa Kitchen. Till her dying day she was known by that name.
Many hurting women sought her advice over the years and she lovingly and patiently advised them on ways to successfully live out their troubled times.
In her later years she began to struggle with memory issues and finally succumbed on Friday, February 26, 2021.
She was wife, sister, mother, grandmother, and friend to all. Preceded in death by daughter, Barbara (Sherman) and Foster daughter, Carol (Rich). She is survived by her loving husband of 78 years and her remaining children, Nancy,(Jim); David (Elaine); and Bill (Barbara). There are 11 grandchildren, 24 great grandchildren and 4 great-great grandchildren as well as numerous nieces and nephews.