Marcia Ackerman

August 23, 1952 - June 6, 2020

Marcia Sue Ackerman, 67, Lawrence, Kansas, passed away on Saturday, June 6, 2020. Marcia was born August 23, 1952, in the San Francisco, California Bay Area at Hamilton Air Field. As the child of a career Air Force Senior Master Sergeant, she lived in numerous states growing up, with favorite places including Cheyenne, Wyoming, Gwinn, Michigan and Hahn Air Force Base in Germany. Marcia graduated from Oak Ridge High School in Orlando, Florida, and attended Martin College and Washburn University with a Bachelor of Arts in Elementary and Secondary Education. She received a Master of Science in Education from the University of Kansas. Marcia began her teaching career in Topeka, Kansas, where she taught fourth and fifth grade at Sacred Heart Elementary. She taught gifted education for 32 years in Lawrence, Perry-Lecompton and Kansas City, Kansas. She was a past-president of the Lawrence Education Association, and was an innovator of gifted education in the 1980s. Marcia was a pioneer in the development of utilizing robotics, media, and computer technology in the classroom, along with culturally responsive teaching. In 1981, she met the love of her life, Daniel Devlin. They married in 1984 and shared the joyous years of raising together their children, Oliver and Laura. Her greatest love was being a mother and supporting her children. Marcia is survived by her husband, Daniel Devlin of Lawrence; children, Oliver Devlin (Stephanie Phan) of Lawrence, Laura Devlin of Steamboat Springs, Colorado; brother, Ron Ackerman of Vian, Oklahoma; niece, Sarah Ackerman (Andrew Hale) of Olathe, Kansas; and great-niece, Mary Kate Hale of Olathe. She was preceded in death by her parents, Bobby and Laverta Ackerman, and sister-in-law, Mary Ackerman. Funeral service will be 10:30 a.m. Saturday, June 13, 2020, at Sacred Heart Catholic Church, 312 NE Freeman Ave, Topeka KS 66616, where visitation will be one-hour prior. Marcia will be privately inurned in Mount Calvary Cemetery. Due to COVID-19 restrictions, social distance and masks are required in the Church. Memorial contributions may be made to the Alzheimer’s Association or to the Kansas City Public Schools Education Foundation, sent in care of Kevin Brennan Family Funeral Home, 2801 SW Urish Road, Topeka KS 66614.