Marilyn Jean Inhofe Davis, 98, passed away peacefully, surrounded by family on January 14, 2025. Known for her wisdom, snazzy appearance, and her love of family and friends, Marilyn was born in Des Moines, Iowa, on October 18, 1926, to Blanche Mountain Inhofe and Perry D. Inhofe, Sr. She was the oldest of four siblings: Joan Johnson, Perry "Bud," and James "Jim," who became a U.S. Senator.

Marilyn moved with her family to Tulsa in l942, where she attended Central High School. Two years later, she attended Gulf Park College for Girls in Gulfport, Mississippi, majoring in dance, her greatest love growing up. After two years at Gulf Park, she graduated and transferred to the University of Tulsa, where she majored in psychology and joined Chi Omega Sorority. Marilyn made wonderful friends wherever she went and nurtured those friendships for many decades. While at TU, she enjoyed her classes, but also had lots of fun, including a time she appeared in LOOK magazine while bottle feeding TU football players! She met a young man named Fred N. Davis, Jr., who was taking photos and writing articles for the school newspaper. After four years of courtship and graduation, they married in 1950 and moved to Cincinnati, OH, where Fred was offered a public relations job with Proctor and Gamble. Their first child, Frederick Newton Davis, III, was born in Cincinnati in l952. After "Freddy" was born, Marilyn's Dad talked them into moving back to Tulsa to work in the family insurance business. Four more children were born over the next seven years: Hannah Jo (Robson), Matthew Dyson and Zachary Charles. A fourth child, Adam Reese, only lived for 9 days. One of her more unique claims to fame was being the neighborhood witch on Halloween for over 50 years. One of her grandchildren, Brandon, nicknamed her "Good Witch." She also wrote in her diary every day since she was 10 years old and became the family historian as a result.

Marilyn dearly loved her family and was often quoted as saying she felt her greatest accomplishment was "making and keeping lifelong friends and raising her four children to be God-loving, independent, compassionate, loving, successful adults." She was also active in many civic organizations and at First Presbyterian Church.

Marilyn experienced many road bumps in her life, including losing a child; losing her husband at the age of 48, leaving her to raise four teenagers; having 4 pacemakers; getting Dropped Head Syndrome a year before having her aortic valve replaced in 2018; complications during that surgery; and her inability to bend her right knee, resulting in her using a wheelchair for the rest of her life. But she handled each of these challenges with an abundance of grace and dignity and taught everyone around her so many lifelong lessons! In 2023, Representative Carol Bush (Tulsa) presented Marilyn with the State of Oklahoma Citation of Congratulation from the Oklahoma House of Representatives for a life well lived!

Marilyn was preceded in death by her parents, all of her siblings, her husband Fred and their infant child Adam Reese Davis. She leaves behind her four children: Fred (Sara Lytle), Hannah Robson (Joe), Matt (Becky) and Zach; grandchildren Haisly Jimenez, Davis Robson (Bailey), Callie Hamilton (Tim), Matthew Davis (Meredith), Megan Davis, Brandon Martin (Liana), Zachary Davis and Nicholas Davis; and 8 great grandchildren: Kaitlyn Jimenez (CJ), Zane Lytle, Whitney and Axel Robson; Ella, Heidi and Sadie Hamilton, and Bradley Martin.

The family would like to thank caregivers Robin, Alejandra, Anastasia and Zakiya from Safe Home Care and Green Country Hospice for their compassionate, loving care.

Marilyn had a strong Christian faith and was a devoted friend, daughter, sister, wife, mother, Nanny and Nana. She dearly loved each one of her children, grandchildren and great grandchildren and will be missed every day.

Visitation will be at Moore's Southlawn Chapel in Tulsa 5 - 7 p.m. on January 22. A graveside service will be held at Memorial Park in Tulsa at 1 p.m. on January 23, followed by a memorial service at First Presbyterian Church in Tulsa at 2:30 p.m. A reception will follow at Stephenson Hall at First Presbyterian Church. All are welcome for any of the above. Marilyn loved flowers. Friends, if they choose, may contribute flowers to the funeral home for the viewing or may contribute to First Presbyterian Church TV Ministry, Tulsa Ballet or a charitable organization of their choice in her honor.

Our mom was such a planner that 10 years ago, she commissioned a film about her life for her memorial service. While dated, we feel you might enjoy it. Marilyn Davis Life History Film

Moore Southlawn 918-663-2233