Marilyn E. Davison

Marilyn E. Graber Davison, 95, of Mt. Pleasant, formerly of New London, died Thursday, January 29, 2026, at Briarwood Healthcare Center in Iowa City. She was born November 7, 1930, in Trenton, Iowa, the daughter of Joseph L. and Alice B. Brannon Graber. She married Dean D. Davison on July 21, 1952, and was widowed on November 29, 2010.

She was a student at Eagle Country School until eighth grade and a 1948 graduate of Mt. Pleasant High School. She then received her teaching certificate and began her teaching career in a one room schoolhouse where she taught children through eighth grade at Maple Grove (Prospect) Country School. She went on to teach at Crawfordsville Elementary School and finished her many years of teaching at New London Elementary School, retiring in 1992. She received her B.A. Degree in Education from Iowa Wesleyan College in 1973.

Marilyn was a lifelong member of the Trenton Missionary Church and served as Children's Sunday School Superintendent as well as Sunday School teacher and Children's Church director for over fifty years. She also assisted her husband as church treasurer for many years and continued that position for several years after his death.

Marilyn is survived by her daughter Deana (Tim) Gholson of Iowa City and their sons Greg (Kelly) of Urbandale, Iowa and Grant (Kylie) of Windsor Heights, Iowa; her son Brian (Amy) Davison of Dublin, Ohio and their sons Joe (Gabby) of Monroe, North Carolina and Jeff (Kate) of Hilliard, Ohio; five great-grandchildren, Adelynn, Henry, Rosalina, Theodore and Kaleb; sister-in-law Sherry Graber of Colorado Springs, Colorado, and many nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her husband and parents; siblings, Kenneth (Cecile) Graber, Ruth (Max) Wyse, Esther (Elwyn) Hirschy, Josephine (Charles) Conner, and John Graber; in-laws, Dale (Margie) Davison, Arthur (Grace) Davison, Kenneth (Virginia) Davison, Allie (Glen) Guengerich, Dorothy (John) Hinkle, Leo Wagner, Phyllis (Max) Graber, Erma (Duane) Alliman, and Jim (Pat) Davison.

Visitation will begin at noon on Friday at Elliott Chapel, New London, with the family greeting friends from 5:00 – 7:00 pm. Funeral Services will be held at 10:00 am, Saturday, February 7, 2026, at the Trenton Missionary Church with Rev. David Forrester officiating. Burial will follow at Burge Cemetery, New London with a luncheon immediately following at the Pizza Ranch in Mt. Pleasant. Please check in with the hostess for Davison Funeral. In lieu of flowers, memorials have been established for the Trenton Missionary Church or Burge Cemetery. Online condolences may be left at www.elliottfuneralchapel.com.