Michelle Colleen Devlin passed away unexpectedly on November 7, 2022, in Columbia, MO.
Michelle was born on January 24, 1975, in Quincy, Illinois, to Eugene and Sandra Carter Devlin.
She grew up on a farm in rural Knox City and graduated from Knox County High School in 1993. Following high school, she attended the University of Missouri and graduated with a Bachelor’s degree in General Agriculture in 1997. She was employed as an Assistant Manager at Principal Financial Group.
Michelle will be remembered for her love of life, sense of adventure, and giving heart. She treasured the role of “fun” aunt and doted on her nieces and nephews. Michelle brightened their lives by going on mini adventures with them, creating tent cities in her living room, reading to them, and playing for hours. Her culinary skills were outstanding. Although she was a great cook, her baking skills took center stage. She made the best desserts, enjoyed baking and decorating cupcakes for parties, and crafting creative birthday cakes in all shapes, sizes, and themes.
Michelle was selfless in giving to others with her time, money, and energy. She was someone you could always count on. If you needed help moving, cleaning, babysitting, organizing a special event, assistance while you were sick, or needed a shoulder to cry on—she would show up. Her selfless nature and giving heart carried over into philanthropic areas. She was involved with Trekking for Kids, 501(c)(3), and traveled to Europe, Asia, South America, Central America, and Africa to work with children in orphanages. She loved children and felt strongly about doing all she could to help those in need. In addition to working in the orphanages, she also explored her adventurous side on these treks by hiking Mt. Everest Basecamp in Nepal, Mt. Kilimanjaro in Tanzania, Africa, the Inca Trail and Machu Pichu in Peru, the Mayan Highlands in Guatemala, the Jungle Highlands in Thailand, the Camino de Santiago Trail in Spain, and recently the Isle of Skye in Scotland and Giants Causeway in Ireland. She lived life to the fullest.
Abraham Lincoln is attributed with quoting, “And in the end, it’s not the years in your life that count. It’s the life in your years.” Michelle lived and loved in her short 47 years. Her brightness touched so many lives, and she will be forever missed.
Michelle is survived by her parents, Eugene and Sandra Devlin; one sister, Diane (Tate) Tyree; and one brother, Dan (Karisha) Devlin; five nieces and nephews, Maurie, Crosbey, and Staley Tyree; and Jason and Kate Devlin. She is also survived by aunts and uncles, Kathy Yager, Larry and Lana Carter, David and Hazel Carter, and Bob and Carole Devlin; as well as numerous cousins and friends.
She was preceded in death by her grandparents, Lawrence “Larry” and Maugerite “Marge” Devlin of Edina, MO, and D. R. and Virginia Carter of Mexico, MO; and her uncles, Jack Yager and Thomas Devlin.
Visitation will be held at Doss Funeral Home, Edina, MO, on Sunday, November 13, from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m.
Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Monday, November 14, at 10 a.m. at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Edina, MO. Burial will be at St. Joseph Catholic Cemetery.
Memorials may be made to Trekking for Kids and be left at or mailed to Doss Funeral Home, 208 N. 4th Street, Edina, MO 63537. Additionally, memorials may be made online at https://bit.ly/TrekkingForKids.