Cherry Davenport Kelly

Louisville - Cherry Joan Cook Davenport Kelly, 93, of Louisville passed away on July 17, 2024, at The Legacy at English Station. She was born in the same home as her mother on January 25, 1931, in Waco, TX to Alfred "Barbara" Margaret Ledwell Cook and George "Jack" Orville Cook.

Cherry's childhood was chaotic, but her beloved Aunt Mamie (Bessie Mae Ledwell Vesey) provided devoted love, stability and security. She and her mother moved many times and for several years were in a carnival. She attended 13 different schools but was always an excellent student, even skipping a grade. She attended high school at Oak Ridge High School in Oak Ridge, TN while high security work was being performed there for the Manhattan Project. (Badges were required to move in and out of the city.) Cherry was captain of the girls' basketball team, which a Knoxville newspaper referred to as "Cherry's Cookies". After the war, Cherry was one of four students selected to travel to Pennsylvania to discuss the peaceful use of nuclear power.

Cherry entered Berea College when only 16. There she met Roy Dae Davenport, the love of her life. Cherry and Roy treasured their time at Berea, building rich, lifelong friendships. Cherry graduated with a Bachelors in Biology on June 4, 1951 and married Roy in Danforth Chapel on the Berea campus later the same day. To add excitement to an already momentous day, they were in a car accident that evening, but reached Cumberland Falls for their honeymoon unharmed.

Cherry and Roy moved to Ary, Kentucky where they both worked at Homeplace Hospital and Clinic - Cherry as Med Tech in charge of lab and x-ray functions, and Roy as the business manager. Soon after starting their family, they moved to Louisville, where Cherry continued her medical career in the lab of pediatricians House, Nicholas, Holmes & McCleary.

Cherry dearly loved the natural world and found it a source of unending delight and wonder. This passion led her to environmental activism tackling issues like the open burning ban and the first Free Bus Day for TARC. She worked for the Louisville/Jefferson County Community Development Cabinet and was the Executive Director of Action for Clean Air, and Strategies for Environmental Control. She worked for the Commonwealth of Kentucky as a Senior Environmentalist, developing solid waste management plans with county judges and fiscal courts. Cherry was even licensed to run a waste management facility, although she never did. In the 1970's, Cherry joined Mayor Harvey Sloane's Kitchen Cabinet, and also served on the National Board for Handicap Accessibility. She was active in the League of Women Voters and was named a Kentucky Colonel.

Cherry was an enthusiastic, lifelong learner and enjoyed putting new knowledge to service. She volunteered at the Louisville Zoo, the Blackacre State Nature Preserve, the Kentucky Center for the Arts and the Reading House for the Blind. Cherry also served as Board member and volunteer for the Floyds Fork Environmental Association. She was always ready to roll up her sleeves for a rivershed clean-up. Cherry was a competitive paddle tennis player in college and remained an excellent ping pong player into her 90s. She and Roy were avid bridge players and held life-long friendships with many members of their bridge clubs. She loved playing almost any type of game, being with family and traveling with them throughout the world.

Cherry was a member of Harvey Browne Memorial Presbyterian Church for over 50 years, participating in numerous groups and activities from the softball team and Harvey Bees square dancing group to her Women's Circle.

Cherry was predeceased by her husband Roy, sister Judy Cook Irby, brothers Ronnie Cook and Larry Cook, mother Margaret Cook, father Jack Cook, stepmother Mildred Cook and great aunt and uncle Bessie and Roy Vesey. Cherishing her memory are her children Donna (Alec) Smythe, Marsha Davenport (Margaret Leigh), Nancy (Jim) Rissler, Steve (Anne) Davenport, 10 grandchildren and 12 great-grandchildren as well as a large extended family and countless friends.

She will be deeply missed by all and loved for generations to come.

Her family wishes to thank The Legacy at English Station for two years' of loving care that allowed Cherry to live life to the fullest despite dementia. And, we deeply appreciate the support Hosparus offered Cherry and the family during her final days.

Her funeral service will be held at Harvey Browne Memorial Presbyterian Church, 311 Browns Lane, Louisville, KY 40207 on Saturday, November 30, 2024 at 11 am. Visitation will be at the church prior to the service from 9:30 - 11 am.

Donations in Cherry's memory may be made to Berea College or Harvey Browne Memorial Presbyterian Church.