Marilyn Joan Davis

Marilyn Joan Davis obituary, Derby, KS

Marilyn Joan Davis

Marilyn Davis Obituary

Visit the Smith Mortuary - Derby Chapel website to view the full obituary.

Davis, Marilyn Joan, 88, passed away on February 6, 2026. She was born on March 25, 1937 in Hays, Kansas to Thomas and Zelma Cartwright in Wichita, Kansas.

Marilyn’s family lived in Paradise Kansas for many years, later moving to the Augusta, Kansas area. She graduated form Augusta, Kansas Highschool in 1955. The Cartwright family loved playing music. They spent a lot of time together doing so with family & friends. In 1955 Marilyn married Jim Floyd. Music was also a big part of their life, playing in a band at the time where Marilyn played the piano, Jim played the guitar & sang, with her father Tommy playing multiple instruments. Together they raised four daughters: Teresa, Karla, Benita, & Diana. They later divorced after 21 years of marriage.

Marilyn was a Sheetmetal Mechanic working for Cessna, Learjet, & later for Boeing where she met Wendell Davis. They married in December of 1985 living in the Mulvane & Derby, Kansas area. She retired from Boeing after 15 years of service. In 1990 Wendell also retired. They immediately moved from Derby, Kansas to Wendell’s home state of Tennessee, settling on a farm outside New Tazwell. They grew tobacco for several years & enjoyed fishing. Marilyn never lost her love for music & played piano for the Baptist church, going to other churches to help when called upon. In 2004 they moved back to Kansas to be closer to their children. Wendell & Marilyn were happily married 35 years until he passed away in February of 2020.

Marilyn was a resident of Brookdale Tallgrass Assisted living when she passed away. There she made many friends over the years. She had grown very fond of Bob Taylor, often telling friends & family “she had a boyfriend”. They loved watching baseball & football games together. Both avid Kansas City Chiefs fans.

She was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Wendell Davis; grandchildren, Codie Myers; Darren Cartwright; and siblings, Gene Cartwright and Bonnie Van Sickle.

Marilyn is survived by her daughters, Teresa (Mike) Roberts, Karla (Jessie) Leak, Benita (Aaron) Guinn, Diana Taboada; grandchildren, Amy Grether, Christopher Myers, Jay (Kelly) Bonilla, Jonathan Bonilla, Brian (Stephanie) Bonilla, Kristina Bonilla (Eric Sowersby), Carmen (Dwayne) Potts, Kathy Bonilla-Leal (Pepe Leal), Megan (Pat) Magdaleno, Misty Smith, Melissa Bonds, Treasure Jones, Travis (Emilee) Guinn, Ted (Natalie) Floyd, Jamie Floyd, Annet Mercado, Michael (Lucilia) Feliciano, Manual (Jackie) Feliciano, and Maria Feliciano; numerous great-grandchildren and great-great-grandchildren; Nephew, Tim (Brenda) Ford, Niece, Gayla Ford Bryant, and a host of extended family members and friends.

Visitation will be held on Wednesday, February 11, 2026, from 5-7pm. Funeral service is 1:00pm Thursday, February 12, 2026, both at Smith Family Mortuary, 1415 N. Rock Road, Derby, Kansas 67037.

To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.

Smith Mortuary - Derby Chapel

1415 N. Rock Rd., Derby, KS 67037

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