1927 - 2021
Marion Davies Richardson of Springfield Missouri died at her home, surrounded by family, on December 9, 2021. She was 94.
Marion was born in Fond du Lac, Wisconsin to Edwin and Minnie Davies. As their oldest daughter raised during the Depression , Marion was no stranger to hard work. Early on she assumed responsibility for helping to raise her five sisters and 9 brothers as her father worked at a brewery and her mother waitressed at restaurants. Marion even began waitressing to help support the family.

As a young woman, Marion moved to Milwaukee, where she also worked in restaurants. In her mid-twenties she met and married Wilburn Richardson, moving to his family farm in Teresita Missouri. They had two children: Billy Jo Richardson of Teresita, who is retired from a career at City Utilities in Springfield, and Jackie Richardson who is an independent Hair Designer and owns her company Zero Time LLC.

When her marriage ended Marion moved to Springfield with her pre-school aged children, returning to the restaurant industry she already knew well. She began waitressing at The Shady Inn Steak House. Marion was skilled at bookkeeping and quickly added those duties to her new job at The Flaming Pit. When the managers position became available, Marion stepped into that role, too.

Marion was resourceful and a good problem-solver. As a single mother working fifty-sixty hour weeks she needed some help at home, so she recruited a student from Evangel College, Glenda Young, to help care for her children in exchange for room and board. Glenda stayed for five years and became an "older sister" for the kids and a member of the family.

Marion cherished her children. She tried to reserve weekends to be with them. Her daughter remembers many happy childhood weekends spent at the pool at the Flaming Pit, as well at barbecue and picnics at Fellows Lake.

Marion also was creative-and fearless. She sewed clothes for her daughter and would undertake home remodeling and repair projects most men would not even attempt.

Marion was known by her staff to be generous and fair, treating them equally. When a woman working for her became pregnant and her family told her to move out, Marion moved the employee into her home until she had the baby.

Marion went on to manage the J.C. Penny coffee shop; for years it was the most profitable J.C. Penny coffee shop in the nation winning her numerous awards. Marion was a member of the American Business Women's Association, and was named Business Woman of the Year by the Springfield Chapter.

Marion lived independently until 93. As her health declined over the last year, she was able to remain in her home because of the loving care and devotion of Cindy Gann- her son Bill's girlfriend, whom Marion viewed as family.

Marion enjoyed traveling, attending family reunions in Wisconsin, California, and the lakes of Missouri. In addition to her children, Marion is survived by her sister Ned Laabs of Milwaukee Wisconsin, and many other Davies relatives.

Besides her family Marion loved spending time with her friends having card and domino night at her house. Marion loved antiquing, doing puzzles and had an amazing rose garden. In her retirement, she did charitable work and volunteered for Meals on Wheels, doing their bookkeeping and delivering over a 1000 meals to seniors. Her best friend Ada Lee, said "The world would be a much better place if there were more woman like Marion"
No services are planned at this time. Online condolences may be left at gormanscharpf.com