Deva Merl Sylvester 

December 3, 1943 — July 7, 2019 

Deva Merl Sylvester, age 75, of Colorado Springs, CO, passed away on July 7, 2019. She was the daughter of Leslie & Etta Sylvester of Anaheim, CA. Deva is survived by her daughter Elaine Baldwin of Colorado Springs, CO, daughter Connie Erwin (Dave) of Pahrump, NV, and grandchildren Krystle Paquin (Alan) of Colorado Springs, CO, Jeffrey Baldwin of Mission Viejo, CA, and Desiree Baldwin of Victorville, CA. She is also survived by her two sisters, Pat Wine of Glendale, OR, and Sally Davis of Castle Rock, CO, and a host of nieces, nephews, grandnieces, and grandnephews. Deva was preceded in death by her parents Leslie & Etta Sylvester, and a grandson, Bryan Erwin of Pahrump, NV. 

Deva met and married Richard Marsh in Inglewood, CA. They raised their two daughters, Elaine and Connie, in Inglewood and Anaheim, CA. Deva was a prankster who loved having fun with her kids. A favorite memory of Deva’s daughters is Deva driving them to toilet paper multiple houses. Her daughters also remember running around Southwest Bowl, the local bowling alley, while Deva and her parents attempted to bowl a perfect 300. 

After graduating from Marinello School of Beauty in Inglewood, Deva was a hair stylist and was also trained in other areas of cosmetology. As a result, Deva’s hairstyles were always evolving! You never knew what color or style she’d be wearing next! Her careers were an outlet for her love of being around people. Besides cosmetology, she served at many of the establishments in the Disneyland area of Southern California, and even drove a bus for the Orange County Transit Authority. In her “downtime,” she also coached her daughters’ softball league team. 

Deva liked the thrill of adventure, too. She waterskied on the Colorado River, bungee jumped, parasailed, hiked, and rafted. She was full of life and fun, and she was almost never without a smile on her face. Her phone voicemail greeting said, “You’ve reached the real diva!” In the words of her friends and family, “She was a kick!” 

There is no doubt Deva enjoyed life to its fullest – she was very proficient in mosaic artwork, she enjoyed sewing, gardening, bowling, camping, and spending time with her family. She dabbled in the arts, including painting, and joined many arts and crafts groups. Deva’s mosaic talents are evidenced by the many mosaic pieces which she gave as gifts to family and friends. As for gardening, with both plants and flowers, Deva had a green thumb and could turn an unsightly area into a wonderful oasis. She often had her daughters help with watering all the plants, which took quite a bit of time. Deva’s favorite flowers were yellow daffodils, and her favorite colors were hot pink and yellow — both colors reflections of her bright and fun nature. 

Deva was also a caring and hardworking wife. You could often find her doing yardwork, cleaning the house, taking care of the car (including changing the oil by herself, so Richard could come home to a restful, relaxing home and enjoy the weekend). And, of course, Deva utilized the assistance of her daughters for these chores and instilled in them the value of hard work. 

Deva was passionate about all things, but most especially the Lord, her family, and the disabled. She joined many a Bible study group and enjoyed learning the Scriptures. Deva showered love upon her children and grandchildren as they grew up, and she also expressed her love by caring for several disabled adults over the course of her life. 

Of all the things Deva was most proud of, her family was most-definitely at the top of the list. She loved how her grandkids called her “MooMoo,” and she often wrote them letters and enjoyed celebrating each of life’s milestones with her family. She loved camping with her family; they went everywhere – Morro Bay and the California coastline, Sequoia National Park, Grand Canyon, and stayed at many cross-country KOA Campgrounds. She brought laughter, joy and fun to all she came in contact with. Deva’s family will miss her greatly and are deeply saddened by the void left by her passing. 

Deva’s family invites all who knew and loved her to attend and celebrate her at her memorial service, “A Celebration of New Life,” on Thursday, July 25, 3:00-6:00 PM, at Trace Church – Rockrimmon Campus, 5805 Mark Dabling Blvd, Colorado Springs, CO 80919.