Here it is:Devany was born June 12, 1984 at a small army hospital in Tooele, Utah. She is the first daughter of Deven Kay and Betseylee Browning.
Devany’s heritage includes the legacy of many Mormon Pioneers. Her 4th great grandfather was Jonathan Browning, the renowned gun maker of Illinois who after his conversion to the church moved to Nauvoo and was essential to the westward preparations at that time. His son, John Moses Browning, was the founder of the world changing Browning Arms company.
Her brother Timothy was born 14 months after Devany was born. At age 2, Devany and her family moved to Clinton, UT into a small house her dad helped to build. The more notable events that happened in her life during her two years there included breaking her leg when she fell of a swing, and her younger sister Charity being born.
Her family then spent less than a year at a home in Chubbuck, Idaho where her brother Joshua was born. Devany’s favorite part of living there was the ice cream truck in the afternoon. Her family frequently made Sunday afternoon trips to Grandma and Grandpa’s house, who lived in neighboring Pocatello. This tradition continued during the five years her family Pocatello and now how become a regular holiday occurrence. Devany loved playing with her cousins near her in age, Jennifer and Bethany. Birthdays and baptisms were always fun to celebrate with her extended family.
Devany’s family moved to Pocatello Creek Road before she started kindergarten. Devany thrived on learning and was anxious to for everyday of school at Edahow Elementary. She had already learned how to read before starting kindergarten and enjoyed her teachers: Mrs. Jensen, Mrs Iasenides, Mrs. Louise, Mrs. Guyon, and Mrs. Armstrong. She also enjoyed playing with her friend Cassi who lived near her home. She and her brothers and sisters loved being outdoors and explored every inch of their 5 acre property. During the summer after 2nd grade her youngest brother Eric was born. At school she and her best friend, Dayna, were inseparable until she moved in the summer after 4th grade.
Devany was a serious, shy, intellectual child who enjoyed playing outdoors. She hated piano practice, but enjoyed playing with her doll house. In the Summer of 1993, Devany's cousin Jeralee was abducted and murdered. This event had a deep effect on her. She wrote the following in October 2002 (modified December 2008) to describe her experience:
I can remember a night, over ten years ago, when I knew something was wrong. Eventually, my parents told me, in a way that I could understand at the age of nine, that my fun outgoing cousin, Jeralee, was missing, and most likely had been abducted that summer afternoon. Jeralee's face on the reward posters, and her picture on the front page of the newspaper confirmed the terrible reality of her disappearance. The search begun that evening turned into a community hunt that lasted for almost a week. I remember those grim days, the prayer at the chapel, the flowers that filled my aunt and uncle's front room and kitchen, the pink bows on the car antennas, the front page news stories, the funeral at the overflowing chapel, and Jeralee's sister, Jennifer, crying at the grave side.
Mostly I remember the feelings of love and hope that permeated our family, our community, and all those affected by Jeralee's death. Some of those involved questioned this. How could my aunt and uncle tell the media only of their gratitude for the support of the community instead of focusing on seeking justice? Why didn't they feel outraged at the man who had taken their oldest daughter from them? How could their faith bring comfort to their children who had lost their kindest sister? Those incredible testimonies of love and faith in a plan of salvation and eternal families have been indelibly inscribed on my heart. Those testimonies are now my testimony. That foundation of faith is my foundation that helps me to withstand the times when Satan tries to send seeds of doubt into my mind.
This new home was in the beautiful small town of Mountain Green. This rural community was situated in Morgan valley and frequently place quiet solitude for Devany. She attended Morgan Middle School for 6th-8th grades. This was difficult adjustment time in her life where she often found escape in reading and music.
Around this time she also met one of her best friends, Emily Tenney. During the summers and after school they would spend time at her house doing lots of nothing. She also enjoyed associations with her Young Women’s leaders and Young women’s activities, especially Girls’ camp.
By the time Devany reached High School age, she had become a very self sufficient, independent teenager. She enjoyed saving her money from babysitting, and saved for a band trip to Washington D.C. her freshman year. As soon she was old enough she got a job at Taco Time. She worked there during High School and the summer after her freshman year of college.
During her early teenage years, Devany’s testimony of the gospel of Jesus Christ also developed more fully. She spent time reading the Book of Mormon and other church books, including the Work and the Glory series. She was blessed with experiences that deepened her testimony of Joseph Smith and the Prophet of her childhood and growing up years-- President Gordon B. Hinckley. Particularly memorable for her was the open house of the Bountiful temple and the broadcast dedication of the Palmyra temple, as well as experiences in nature. Her spiritual nature has been deeply nourished by her time spent in the temples of the Lord, including Seattle, Taipei, Rexburg, and many throughout Utah.
During her senior year of high school Devany decided to attend BYU-Idaho. She loved her freshman year of college, including the Orchestra tour to Arizona. She savored spiritual experiences and slowly became more self confident. She enjoyed her roommates, making friendships and developing better relationships with her family and friends.
From Fall 2004 – June 2005, Devany spent her last year of college at BYU. She lived at Southridge apartments with her friend from home Brooke Merrill. She enjoyed her classes, especially Shakespeare and Humanities 201 with Dr. Parry. She worked at the Skyroom Restaurant part time. She also enjoyed her ward and friendships she developed during that time.
She had planned to leave on her mission soon after graduation, but needed to earn money. So she spent June- October working in West Yellowstone at a hotel and restaurant. Though she did earn the money she needed this was a difficult experience. She was grateful to return home and finish preparations for her mission.
But once again things did not go as planned. She did receive a mission call in February of 2006, but she also started dating a boy she had met at country dancing. She wrote this about the experience:
This was the first “head over heals” that lasted for longer than a week…the first roses someone gave me; The first time someone unrelated to me told me “I love you”; my first trip to Moab; the first time I caught a goal in ultimate Frisbee; the first break your heart, depressed for two weeks, can’t help but yell and scream and cry until you eat some ice cream kind of break up. The best thing about that breakup though was that it allowed him to marry the right girl and me to not marry the wrong boy.
She finally found the right time to serve her mission and prepared to leave the next year. Her testimony was strengthened by the awareness she felt God had for her and her mission decision. During this time she worked for a family as Nanny who had 3 children with disabilities. She also spent several months working as a kindergarten teacher at Spectrum Academy, a school for children with autism.
served a mission in Taiwan, Taichung (Taizhong )mission. She entered the MTC on February 7, 2006. She enjoyed learning Mandarin Chinese with her district there. She left for Taiwan at the end of April. She was assigned to the Xitun, Zhanghua, Nantou and Zhunan areas. She had 10 companions in Taiwan, 3 of whom were native missionaries. She served under President and Sister Watterson until June 2006, and under President and Sister Hoer until her release. She returned home August 5, 2007.
On July 30 in her last letter home she wrote:
“I'm grateful to have served as a mission in Taiwan. Every phase on the mission has had it's own challenges, but I have always been well taken care of by the Lord and our mission leaders. I realized this week how impossible it is to describe what I've learned or much about how mission experience. There is so much and it is often deeper than words. But I guess I will be doing my best to share what I have learned when I return home. I'm looking forward to the beautiful mountains, the strength of my friends and family at home, and the opportunity to see what the Lord has in store for my future. Yesterday our investigator Amy asked me what I had learned from serving a mission. I told her I've learned "to serve the Lord and do what he asks of me" (of course in Chinese) I'm grateful for this time of tutoring from the Lord and from companions, leaders, and of course you, my family, and friends who have supported me.”She returned home and found herself in a new life as a returned missionary. She wrote:
I adjusted to being home quickly. Quickly enough to buy a few pairs of heels, get a cute haircut, and feel as if I had stepped into an old, but different reality. My new life included country dancing, my best friend and younger brother‘s weddings, and some sense of excitement in my newly returned missionary status. I found myself back in Provo, working at Heritage treatment center as a counselor for 14 teenage girls, and surviving the dating life.
Currently Devany resides in Provo and continues to grow in her experiences as a counselor for teenager girls and life as a young adult. She is excited for what lies ahead.
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