MARLA JORDAN HUDGENS
Our beloved Marla Jordan (Davee) Hudgens (40) and her three beautiful children, Christopher Jay (3) and twins Faye Jordan and Gwen Jacqueline (5 months) were tragically taken from us on November 16, 2022, leaving those who survived her learning what it takes to say "We can do hard things." Marla was born January 24, 1982 in Flagstaff, Arizona. A caring family member, compassionate friend, excellent lawyer, selfless volunteer, community leader, team player, involved coach, and devoted mother, Marla was exceptional and her big heart, quick wit, and endless sense of humor left an indelible mark on everyone she met. From Reno to Spain and every where in between, she touched countless lives as she bounced across the 20+ addresses she had in her tooshort time on this earth.
Marla had a deep sense of fairness. As a child, she gave others the benefit of the doubt and always fought and rooted for the underdog. She had a gift for connecting with people. As a lifelong sufferer of anxiety, she learned to read others, paying attention to subtle changes and doing what she could to empathize and make them comfortable and safe.
A natural athlete, Marla fell early and hard for her first love: soccer. From childhood to adult leagues, Marla's passion for the sport led her to coaching.
She joined the North Central Phoenix Madison Futbol Club as an active Board Member and Director of Girls Coaching. A beloved coach, Marla developed a sense of passion and confidence in her team. In them she saw reflections of herself and stopped at nothing to get each athlete to do and be their best, on the field and off. Her passion and compassion led to a successful legal career. After graduating cum laude in 2004 from Gonzaga University, Marla received her law degree from the University of Nevada-las Vegas, William S. Boyd School of Law in 2008. She began as a law clerk for Nevada Supreme Court Justice James W. Hardesty, a valued mentor. Marla entered private practice in 2010 as an associate attorney at Lionel Sawyer & Collins in Las Vegas. In 2014, she joined Lewis Roca, which returned her to her hometown of Reno and ultimately led her to Phoenix, where she made partner in 2017. Marla was a determined litigator with a bulldoggish tenacity who also practiced administrative and regulatory law. She was passionate about humanitarian causes, working especially with sovereign Indian tribes during the pandemic. Despite her diminutive stature, Marla stood tall among the best in her profession and was highly respected throughout the legal community, beloved by her clients and colleagues. In her shortened career, Marla established a reputation for integrity, intelligence, her sharp wit, and working tirelessly in the name of truth and justice.
Marla loved her community. She held deep-seated beliefs that while each of us has individual talents, together we could change the world. She served as Vicepresident of the Phoenix Lions Club, an organization known for helping the blind, assisting the disabled, and aiding seniors and was the chair of a scholarship program for high school seniors who planned to continue their education.
In addition to her career and community achievements, Marla was a remarkable friend. She was sparky and very funny, with an amazing sense of humor and a bubbling laugh that quickly pulled everyone in to laugh along with her stories. She was always available to listen and give advice and had a knack of entwining her life with theirs. To her dearest friends, she was endlessly loving and everpresent in a way that was both impossible and effortless. To paraphrase one of Marla's favorite poems, it didn't interest her what you did for a living, how old you were, where you lived, or how much money you had, she wanted to know what you ached for, what you longed for, if you could sit with pain, be with joy, and see the beauty even when it was not pretty. Marla had a way of finding out what sustained you from the inside, when all else fell away.
Above all else, Marla was a loving and compassionate mother. Nothing gave her more joy than her children and their existence in this world completed her life. Christopher was born April 24, 2019 in Phoenix, Arizona. Chris was a curious, charming, active boy with boundless energy. Like his mom, he was known for encouraging and cheering on his friends, lifting them up, and supporting them any chance he could. Even at three, Chris was profoundly empathetic and wise beyond his years. He developed many close bonds with family, friends, and caregivers in his short life. Chris loved swimming, cars, and his baby sisters.
Faye and Gwen were born May 19, 2022 in Phoenix, Arizona. Marla's "Hamburger" and "Hot Dog" twins, the girls were cheerful, happy, and adored by all who were blessed to meet them. The shorter and rounder of the two with a voracious appetite, Faye had a smile that lit up every room and was happiest at mealtime. Our long girl, Gwen, was the Queen. At five months, she had a personality that was confident and bossy with an underlying playfulness, just like her mom. Marla, Chris, Faye, and Gwen were bigger than the whole sky and it is heartbreaking to know that we will never get to see what could've been, would've been, and should've been.
Marla was predeceased by her sister, Lexa Davee, and her dogs, Gus and Duke. Surviving Marla and her children are her parents, Tom and Patti Davee, her dog Cheddar, her extended family of aunts, uncles, cousins, nieces, and nephews, her loyal friends, athletes, colleagues, and the many members of the Phoenix, Las Vegas, and Reno communities who were impacted by her.
A celebration of life will be held in Topaz 2 room of the Renaissance Hotel in Reno, Nevada, on March 18, 2023 from 1:30-3:30 pm, with an afterparty directly after at Bundox Bocce. Food and beverages will be provided, therapy dogs will be present, and, in addition to speakers, there will be an open mic for all to share. To share memories, photos, and videos with the family, email marlajordanhudgens@gmail.com. In lieu of flowers, please donate to the Madison Futbol Club Coach Marla Memorial Scholarship, the North Phoenix Lions Club Marla Hudgens Memorial Scholarship, or any organization that you feel Marla would have supported.
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