Marjorie Hall Davis

1932 - 2019

Davis, Marjorie Hall
Marjorie Hall Davis, 86, of Granby, beloved wife for 19 years of Karl Edward Peters, passed away peacefully on Sunday, February 24, 2019, surrounded by her family at her home. Born in Meriden on April 19, 1932, daughter of the late Almon Elizur and Amy (Ericson) Hall, she was raised in Wallingford and was a graduate of Lyman Hall High School, Class of 1950. Marjorie continued her education at Smith College and Cornell University where she received her undergraduate degree with honors in zoology in 1954 followed by a M.S. in neurology and embryology, researching the neurochemistry involved in the regeneration of newt limbs. In 1957 Marjorie moved to Granby, established the chemistry department at Granby Memorial High School and taught biology, chemistry, and physics there for three years before leaving to raise her four children. While her children were growing up in Granby, Marjorie was very involved in all of their activities and also volunteered at her church and in several community organizations. She served on two school building committees, helped to write the curriculum for a cooperative kindergarten, and assisted in inner city Head Start programs. She later returned to school attending Hartford Seminary and Yale Divinity School and received her M. Div. from Yale and was ordained in the United Church of Christ in 1986. Marjorie worked for over 20 years as an Interim Minister in the Hartford area and as a pastoral counselor at the Pastoral Counseling Center of West Hartford. Her love of learning, science, and religion also led her to teach as an adjunct faculty member at Hartford Seminary and to become involved with the Institute on Religion in an Age of Science (IRAS). Marjorie served as a council member and as President of IRAS and also served on the steering committee of the Religion and Science Group of the American Academy of Religion. She was active in the UCC Science and Technology Working Group, and the Ecumenical Roundtable on Science, Technology, and the Church, and was a Fellow of the American Association of Pastoral Counselors. She presented academic papers in Edinburgh, Scotland and Assisi Italy, travelled with the Plowshares Institute to South America and Africa, and engaged in peace and social justice activities throughout her life. Marjorie published articles in embryology and in science and religion, as well as several cases for the case-study method of teaching. Following the loss of her daughter at the age of 17, Marjorie's work as a minister and a pastoral counselor focused on issues related to loss, grief, and life transition. In addition to her academic and professional achievements Marjorie cherished her connections to family and friends in Granby and Guilford, CT, Star Island, NH and throughout the world. Besides her husband, she leaves three children, Paul Forrest Davis and his fiancée Kathy Livingston of Granby, Anne Davis Pickart and her husband Dr. Robert S. Pickart of Falmouth, MA, and Mark Hall Davis and his wife Valerie Boyko Davis of Granby; and seven grandchildren, Jana Pickart of Jamaica Plain, MA, Matthew Pickart of the Canary Islands, Sarah Pickart of Mashpee, MA, David Pickart of Chicago, IL, Gregory Pickart of Falmouth, MA, and Amelia and Nora Davis both of Granby. She was predeceased by her daughter, Beth Hall Davis; a brother, Norman Almond Hall; and her first husband, Forrest Henry Davis, DVM. Her family will receive friends on Saturday, March 2, 2-5 p.m., at the Hayes-Huling & Carmon Funeral Home, 364 Salmon Brook St., Granby. A memorial service will be held on Saturday, March 30, 12 Noon, at the South Congregational Church, 242 Salmon Brook St., Granby. Burial will be private at In Memoriam Cemetery, Wallingford. Memorial donations may be made to IRAS, c/o David Klotz, Treasurer, 82 Goose Lane, Coventry, CT 06238, the Star Island Conference Center, 30 Middle St., Portsmouth, NH 03801 or to South Congregational Church, 242 Salmon Brook St., Granby, CT 06035. For online condolences please visit, www.carmonfuneralhome.com.