Edna M. Davis

EDNA MAE DAVIS was born on July 12, 1923 to John and Polly (Creech) Lewis on a small farm in Gilley, Kentucky. She was the oldest of eight children. She attended Coyles Branch Elementary School in Gilley and graduated from Kingdom Come High School in Letcher County, Kentucky. After she finished school, she worked in a shipyard in Jeffersonville, Indiana during World War II. In 1947, she met William “Bill” T. Davis who had served in the United States Navy during the war. On January 21, 1949 they were married and this union was blessed with six children. They raised their family in Ypsilanti, Michigan where Bill worked for Detroit Diesel. Besides being a homemaker, Edna worked at the A&P Bakery and also as a licensed Day Care Provider. In 1974, they moved to the coastal town of Port Lavaca, Texas where they owned and operated Taylor’s Bar and Lake Grocery. In 1977, Edna opened her own day care center which was known as Mother Goose Day Care Center. She was licensed for 46 children and had prekindergarten classes. After they retired in 1988, they moved to Lake Benton, Minnesota. There they purchased the Martin Mathison house at 223 Fremont Street. They spent much of their time rebuilding their home. They loved the quiet community and friendly people. Bill died on October 22, 1989. Following his death, Edna remained in Lake Benton until 2007 when she moved to Jacksonville, Florida with her daughter. In 2008, they moved to Pipestone, Minnesota and then to Tyler, Minnesota in 2015. Edna remained at their home until her death on Easter Sunday, April 21, 2019 at the age of 95 years, nine months, and nine days.

Edna was a member of Cornerstone Free Church in Pipestone and Lighthouse Assembly of God in Lake Benton. She enjoyed driving around the countryside with her grandchildren and great-grandchildren, enjoying the beautiful scenery, wildlife, and showing them the best places for wild asparagus picking. She especially liked to tell others about the love of Jesus.

Edna is lovingly remembered by her five children, William Ray Davis and his wife Carol of Florida, Roger Higdon of Oregon, Myra Richter of Tyler, Brenda Fraser of Benson, Arizona, and Norma Hoss of Pipestone; 23 grandchildren; 56 great-grandchildren; 40 great-great-grandchildren; one brother, Walter Lewis, of Cincinnati, Ohio; one sister, Elena Crase of Franklin, Ohio; and numerous nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her husband, Bill; her daughter, Sharol; four brothers, Delmar, Ray, Elmer, Herman Lewis; one sister, Rita Collins; granddaughter, LaRhonda Krauser; and grandson, William B. Davis.