Marcheta Viola Davis

Marcheta Viola Davis, 93, dearly loved mother, grandmother, great-grandmother and sister, passed away April 19, 2018 surrounded by family. Born December 1, 1924 in Akron, she was the only daughter of Edward and Viola Davis. She was named after a 1920's favorite song of her grandmother's, titled "Marcheta, A Love Song of Old Mexico", popularized by Mario Lanza. She was later joined by brothers, Edward Jr. and William.

She graduated from Central High School in 1942 and was awarded a scholarship to the Cleveland Institute of Art. She graduated from the University of Akron in 1948 with a B.S. in Education and a B.S. in Art and continued graduate work at Kent State University. Later, classes with Jack Richard, workshops with various artists, and a session at Brigham Young University in Oahu, enhanced the development of her artistic style.

An artist from an early age, Marcheta viewed the world as a palette of colors and textures. In her teens, she always had a paintbrush in her hand and a canvas on the easel. Throughout the colorful span of her creative life, she hand-colored photographs for Polsky's Portrait Studios, worked as a dress buyer for Stern's Department Store in Cleveland, illustrated fashions for Byron's Clothing in the Beacon Journal, decorated store window displays, painted signs and murals, designed a stained-glass window, hand-painted textiles and painted glassware at the request of Isabelle Firestone. In the end, painting proved to be her favorite creative outlet. Pastels became her preferred medium, although she was also highly accomplished in oil and watercolor. Over the years she exhibited her work regularly, juried shows, gave demonstrations and lectures, as well as won numerous awards. Her last one-woman show, in 2010, featured over 40 paintings newly-created during the previous year. Her lifetime body of work includes several hundred finished paintings.

Marcheta began teaching elementary student art in the Akron Public Schools in 1947, retiring in 1985. Her teaching career included several elementary schools, evening adult education art classes and demonstrations. Marcheta earned the letter of Master Teacher and trained over a dozen student teachers.

At age 16, Marcheta began teaching Sunday School classes. At age 24, she married Rolland Davis, her high school sweetheart, at the Firestone Park Methodist Church. Marcheta and Rolland were members of the Fairlawn-West United Church of Christ, where Marcheta sang in the choir, and later The Bath Church, UCC. After retiring, they travelled the world, and, in 2008, celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary. Marcheta is the mother of 4 children, 7 grandchildren, and 16 great-grandchildren.

A member and past president of the Women's Art League of Akron, Marcheta was also a member of the Hudson Society of Artists, an associate member of the Ohio Watercolor Society and a signature member of the Akron Society of Artists. She was a member and former trustee of the Cuyahoga Valley Art Center, a longtime member of the Akron Woman's City Club, and was on the board of Gallery 732.

Marcheta was preceded in death by her husband, Rolland, and brother Edward, Jr. Marcheta is survived by her brother, William (Sarah); daughters, Rebecca Stoneman-Washee (Ernie) and Deborah Batizy (Csanad); sons, Gregory (Valerie) and Richard (Salvatore Sidoti); daughter-in-law, Carol Davis; grandchildren, Joshua Felber (Trina), Jessica Stiffler (Chris), Jeremiah Felber (Jill), Deidre Myers (Jeff), Rachel Alexander (Jared), Angela Mills (Joel), Ian Davis; and great-grandchildren, Julia, Karah and Elijah Myers; Mia, Cash and Roman Felber; Joseph and Jenna Felber; Hannah, Micah and Elior Mills; Kadence, Colby, June, Heston and Wyatt Alexander. She will be greatly missed by all who knew and loved her.

The family wishes to thank the nurses, care providers and staff of Vista Springs Macedonia and all those from Crossroads Hospice for their compassionate care.

Friends may call Tuesday, April 24, from 4 to 7 p.m. at the Bath United Church of Christ, 3980 West Bath Road, Akron, Ohio, 44333. A memorial service will be at 11:00 a.m. on Wednesday, April 25, at the church where friends may call 1 hour prior to the service. Interment will follow at Rose Hill Burial Park. Memorial contributions may be made in Marcheta's memory to the Alzheimer's Association, 70 W. Streetsboro St. #201, Hudson, 44236 or to the Bath Church. (Billow FAIRLAWN Chapel)