June 25, 2020 at 3:52 p.m.
Rosemary Davis
Obituary
After a life nearly a century long, Rosemary McClain Davis, 98, passed away peacefully June 18, 2020 at the Randolph County Nursing Home.
Her story began Sept. 22, 1921. Muriel McClain and John Meyer were her parents and she grew up in Pennville, Indiana, with her grandparents, Harrison and Julia McClain. She graduated in the Pennville High School Class of 1939. It was in school that she met William E. Davis, whom she married in 1941, and raised their four children on the Davis family farm outside of Pennville.
She raised her family in the Pennville United Methodist Church. She was one of their longest standing members (90-plus years), and served as a trustee there for a time. She was sure to attend Sunday morning services there as long as she was able. To this day, her children immediately settle down and sit up straight when they hear a loud finger snap like she was known to deliver.
Outside the home, she worked for Farm Bureau Insurance, then for Dr. Forest Keeling, finally becoming office manager for Dr. Alfonzo E. Lopez for 28 years until his retirement. It was at this job where she met, and made, so many friends for life. You mention her name and people immediately respond with “I loved her,” “She was a great lady” and “She was always so nice to me.”
She was outgoing and sociable as a member of Delta Theta Tau Sorority, the International Association of Rebekah Assemblies (IARA) and the Order of the Eastern Star.
Traveling was always something she enjoyed and she never failed to meet new and interesting people on every trip. Food was her love language and she always had something for anyone who came through her door. There was always room at the kitchen table for her friends and her kids’ friends. We remember her as a great cook, serving up her own special version of chop suey for her children’s birthdays, special buckwheat pancakes for the family on weekends and those incredible pecan pies. Pepsi always tasted better out of her glass and she was never able to keep a full glass all to herself until all of the kids moved out. She discovered square dancing later in life and liked to swish the crinolines about when showing off a new costume to family and friends. Her grandchildren were special and she brightened up when she told people all about them, especially these last few years.
She is preceded in death by her half-sister, Judy Caldwell Wright; and her son, David William Davis.
She is survived by her half-brother, Merle “Mickey” Caldwell of Parker City, Indiana; her daughters Marilyn Kowalis of Yuma, Arizona, Janette Small of Montague, Michigan, and Kathryn Crafton (husband: Bernie) of Shelbyville, Indiana; daughter-in-law Robyn Davis of Indianapolis; grandchildren Melody VanGundy (husband: Loren Eck) of Bradenton, Florida, Erin O’Connell (husband: Bill) of Montague, Michigan, Gina Sharpe (husband: Shannon) of Muskegon, Michigan, Lindsay Seaver (husband: Chad) of Whitehall, Michigan, Amy Davis Snodgrass (husband: Mark) of Indianapolis, Indiana, Eric Davis of Indianapolis, Indiana, Alex Davis of Indianapolis, Indiana, Karah Mason of Indianapolis, Indiana, and Shane Mason of Waldron, Indiana; step-grandsons Kirk Crafton (wife: Jen) of Dayton, Ohio, and Zach Crafton (wife: Ashley) of Shelbyville, Indiana; and 15 great-grandchildren.
With the current restrictions, a memorial will not be possible until a later date, so we, the family, kindly ask those that loved her to please perform a random act of kindness in her honor.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Rosemary’s name to the Alzheimer’s Association Greater Indiana Chapter Northeast Office, 6324 Constitution Drive, Fort Wayne, IN 46804, or by phone at (260) 420-5547; or to the Pennville United Methodist Church, 190 W. Main St., Pennville, IN 47369, or by phone at (260) 731-3801.
Baird-Freeman Funeral Home in Portland is in charge of arrangements.
Her story began Sept. 22, 1921. Muriel McClain and John Meyer were her parents and she grew up in Pennville, Indiana, with her grandparents, Harrison and Julia McClain. She graduated in the Pennville High School Class of 1939. It was in school that she met William E. Davis, whom she married in 1941, and raised their four children on the Davis family farm outside of Pennville.
She raised her family in the Pennville United Methodist Church. She was one of their longest standing members (90-plus years), and served as a trustee there for a time. She was sure to attend Sunday morning services there as long as she was able. To this day, her children immediately settle down and sit up straight when they hear a loud finger snap like she was known to deliver.
Outside the home, she worked for Farm Bureau Insurance, then for Dr. Forest Keeling, finally becoming office manager for Dr. Alfonzo E. Lopez for 28 years until his retirement. It was at this job where she met, and made, so many friends for life. You mention her name and people immediately respond with “I loved her,” “She was a great lady” and “She was always so nice to me.”
She was outgoing and sociable as a member of Delta Theta Tau Sorority, the International Association of Rebekah Assemblies (IARA) and the Order of the Eastern Star.
Traveling was always something she enjoyed and she never failed to meet new and interesting people on every trip. Food was her love language and she always had something for anyone who came through her door. There was always room at the kitchen table for her friends and her kids’ friends. We remember her as a great cook, serving up her own special version of chop suey for her children’s birthdays, special buckwheat pancakes for the family on weekends and those incredible pecan pies. Pepsi always tasted better out of her glass and she was never able to keep a full glass all to herself until all of the kids moved out. She discovered square dancing later in life and liked to swish the crinolines about when showing off a new costume to family and friends. Her grandchildren were special and she brightened up when she told people all about them, especially these last few years.
She is preceded in death by her half-sister, Judy Caldwell Wright; and her son, David William Davis.
She is survived by her half-brother, Merle “Mickey” Caldwell of Parker City, Indiana; her daughters Marilyn Kowalis of Yuma, Arizona, Janette Small of Montague, Michigan, and Kathryn Crafton (husband: Bernie) of Shelbyville, Indiana; daughter-in-law Robyn Davis of Indianapolis; grandchildren Melody VanGundy (husband: Loren Eck) of Bradenton, Florida, Erin O’Connell (husband: Bill) of Montague, Michigan, Gina Sharpe (husband: Shannon) of Muskegon, Michigan, Lindsay Seaver (husband: Chad) of Whitehall, Michigan, Amy Davis Snodgrass (husband: Mark) of Indianapolis, Indiana, Eric Davis of Indianapolis, Indiana, Alex Davis of Indianapolis, Indiana, Karah Mason of Indianapolis, Indiana, and Shane Mason of Waldron, Indiana; step-grandsons Kirk Crafton (wife: Jen) of Dayton, Ohio, and Zach Crafton (wife: Ashley) of Shelbyville, Indiana; and 15 great-grandchildren.
With the current restrictions, a memorial will not be possible until a later date, so we, the family, kindly ask those that loved her to please perform a random act of kindness in her honor.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Rosemary’s name to the Alzheimer’s Association Greater Indiana Chapter Northeast Office, 6324 Constitution Drive, Fort Wayne, IN 46804, or by phone at (260) 420-5547; or to the Pennville United Methodist Church, 190 W. Main St., Pennville, IN 47369, or by phone at (260) 731-3801.
Baird-Freeman Funeral Home in Portland is in charge of arrangements.
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