Daveya Beth Bussey

Born on July 5, 1941, in Pampa, Texas, to David and Elizabeth (Fleming) McAnally, Daveya grew up with a passion for learning. She attended the University of New Mexico, where she laid the foundation for her future career. It was in Albuquerque that she met the love of her life, Stanley Dowlen Bussey, and the two were married on June 24, 1961.

In 1980, the family moved to Oklahoma City, where Daveya found her true professional home at the Omniplex Science Museum (now Science Museum Oklahoma). For twenty-five years, she was a fixture of the museum, inspiring countless children and adults to look toward the stars.

During the 1990s, Daveya played a significant role in the museum’s partnership with NASA for the historic Stardust Project. As noted by Astronomy Magazine, Stardust was "the mission that forever changed our understanding of comets," becoming the first spacecraft to return cometary samples from beyond the Moon's orbit. At the Omniplex, Daveya helped bring this deep-space exploration to the local community through the planetarium's Stardust program and Stardust Café, which served as a hub for public education and outreach during the mission’s critical years.

Beyond her professional achievements, Daveya was the heart of her family. She was a woman of warmth and grace who found her greatest joy in her roles as a mother, sister, and grandmother.

She was preceded in death by her parents, David and Elizabeth McAnally, and her husband, Stanley Bussey. Her memory will be cherished by her children: Elizabeth Cooper of Oklahoma City, Mary McGill of Yukon, OK, and Eric Bussey of Phoenix, OK; her sister, Connie Maddox of Spavinaw, OK; and her 9 grandchildren and 9 great-grandchildren, all of whom adored her.

A Celebration of Life will be held from 2:00 pm to 4:00 pm on Friday, February 6, 2026, at Science Museum Oklahoma (2020 Remington Place, Oklahoma City, OK), the place where she spent so many years sharing the wonders of the universe with others. Funeral Home is not involved in the Memorial Service.