Marla Hudgens Obituary, Death – Marla Jordan Hudgens (DaVee), who was 40 years old when she passed away, was a powerful leader, a wonderful mother, and a fantastic friend. She was taken from this world on November 16, 2022. Christopher Jay, who is three years old, together with twins Faye Jordan and Gwen Jacqueline, who are six months old, are Marla’s three beautiful children, and they traveled with their mother on the next leg of the adventure that their family is doing. “My goal is not to stay the same but to live in such a manner that each day, year, moment, connection, conversation, and crisis is the material I use to become a truer, more beautiful version of myself,” the author writes. “My goal is not to remain the same.” – Glennon Doyle, Untamed Marla was born on January 24, 1982 in the city of Flagstaff in the state of Arizona. In her brief but eventful life, she was a daughter, a sister, a friend, a teammate, a coach, a counselor, and most importantly, a mother. Her life was cut tragically short. Marla had a strong conviction that the world might be made happier, more just, and more inclusive. It was her one-of-a-kind perspective, hilarious sense of humor, and undeniable determination that enabled her to have such a significant impact on so many people.
Marla was a warm and caring mother, and her children were the source of the greatest joy in her life. The 24th of April, 2019, Christopher was born in the city of Phoenix, Arizona. Chris was a boy full of unlimited energy, boundless curiosity, and boundless charm, just like his mother. And much like his mother, Chris was unflinchingly loyal to his friends. He made it a point to always support and encourage his friends, as well as to offer his congratulations on whatever occasion he could, no matter how big or how small. He had a maturity far beyond his years, and during his brief life, he forged numerous strong relationships with members of his family, friends, and carers. Chris’s enthusiasm for swimming and automobiles was second only to his affection for his two sisters, who he adored more than anything else in the world. On May 19th, 2022, Faye and Gwen were welcomed into the world in Phoenix, Arizona. Due to the fact that Faye was shorter and fatter, and Gwen was longer and thinner, Marla referred to the girls as “Hamburger” and “Hot Dog.” The radiance of Faye’s smile illuminated the entire space she inhabited, but she was at her happiest when she was eating. Gwen was only referred to as the Queen. She was assertive and took charge, but she maintained a cheerful demeanor throughout the process.
Marla has always been a born athlete and is determined to compete at the highest level. She has had a lifelong passion for the sport of soccer. Marla was able to hang with the finest players on the field, including the men who underestimated her diminutive height, whether she was competing in a high school championship or an adult club league. Because of her enthusiasm for both soccer and the development of young athletes, she became involved with the North Central Phoenix Madison Futbol Club, where she served on the executive board and was in charge of girls’ coaching. She started with a program that did not have any girls teams and eventually built it to the point where there were 14 girls teams across two categories. Marla, who has been a beloved coach for a number of years, discovered her source of motivation in the mentorship relationships she formed with these young ladies both on and off the field of play. She had a genuine affection for all of her players and for the sense of community that came with playing on a team. She coached two different age groups throughout each season and referred to her teams with a sense of endearment as her “Bigs” and her “Littles.” She took great pleasure in seeing the fires of passion and self-worth ignite in the players she coached.
Marla’s drive for achievement combined with her passion for righting wrongs helped her establish a prosperous legal practice. She attended Gonzaga University, where she earned a degree with highest honors in 2004, and then attended the William S. Boyd School of Law at the University of Nevada–Las Vegas, where she earned a law degree. She began her legal career by working as a law clerk for Nevada Supreme Court Justice James W. Hardesty, who would go on to become an important role model for her. Marla started her career as a lawyer in private practice in 2011 when she became an associate at Lionel Sawyer & Collins in Las Vegas. Later on, she became a member of the Lewis Roca law company and planted her roots in Phoenix, Arizona. In 2017, she was promoted to the position of Partner in the firm. Marla was a litigator who specialized in commercial matters and also had experience in administrative and regulatory law. Marla held her own as one of the most accomplished professionals in her field. She was well liked by both her clients and her staff, and she enjoyed a great deal of respect among the professional legal community. Marla had a relatively brief career as a lawyer, but in that time she built a strong reputation for honesty, knowledge, and professionalism. She was admired for the unique way in which she managed to combine persistence and generosity of spirit. She was a dedicated worker on behalf of her clients, as well as a mentor and advocate for other young female attorneys in her field who were struggling.
Marla cared deeply about the welfare of the people in her neighborhood. She was firmly convinced that everyone of us possesses unique abilities, and that these abilities, when supported by a community, have the potential to propel us to greater heights as a group. She had previously held the position of Vice President of the Phoenix Lions Club, which is a charitable organization known for assisting the elderly, the blind, and others with disabilities. Marla served as the chairwoman of a scholarship program up until the time of her departure. The program was intended for high school graduates who want to continue their studies after high school. Marla will be honored forever by the Phoenix Lions Club, which will pay tribute to her by naming this scholarship program after her.
Marla was not only successful in her professional and communal life, but she was also an amazing friend who managed to keep more connections than any human being should be able to handle. She was always willing to listen to your problems, offer sage counsel, and brighten your day with her infectious laugh. Marla will be sorely missed in our lives. She improved the planet for everyone once she had been here. We pray that we never forget her radiant grin, outgoing attitude, smart mind, diligent work ethic, amazing wit, and perfectly timed sense of humor. We pray that the knowledge that she is directing Chris, Faye, and Gwen on their new adventure will provide us some measure of consolation.
Marla’s sister, Lexa DaVee, as well as her pets Gus and Duke, passed away before she did. Marla is survived by her parents, Tom and Patti DaVee, her dog Cheddar, her grandmother, Marge Elias, and her extended family consisting of aunts, uncles, cousins, nieces, and nephews, as well as her devoted friends, the athletes she adored, her colleagues, and the many, many other members of the community who were influenced by her. Please send any memories you would like to share with the family to Cousin Tiffany at marlajordanhudgens@gmail.com so that they can be included in a family book. There will be a Celebration of Life held at Bethany Bible Church on December 17, 2022, at 10 a.m. the day after the person’s passing. Everyone is invited to come. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to the Coach Marla Memorial Scholarship Fund at the Madison Futbol Club.