Dorothy Elizabeth Davis

Dorothy Elizabeth Davis, age79, of La Grande and Hermiston, died Saturday, January 11, 2003 at the Grande Ronde Hospital.

A funeral service will be held on Friday, January 17, 2003 at 1:00 p.m. at Daniels Chapel of the Valley with Pastors Gary Hood and Kemit Knight officiating. Committal and interment will follow at the Hillcrest East Cemetery. A Celebration of Life Service will be held on Saturday, January 18, 2003 at 11:00 a.m. at the First Christian Church, 775 W. Highland Avenue in Hermiston. Friends may call on Friday from 9:00 a.m. until 12:00 p.m. at Daniels Chapel of the Valley.

Dorothy was born in Los Angeles, California on December 10, 1923 to David Lester and Katherine "Kitty" Belle (McKay) Warner. She graduated from Commerce High School in San Francisco, California in 1942 and then attended a year of college. She moved to La Grande in 1947. She was a Captain in the Salvation Army, serving in La Grande where she met and married long-time resident Elmer Richard "Swede" Davis, and his children, Richard and Barbara. They lived at 1519 Jackson Avenue his entire life, adding to their family, Laurie and Loren.

Dorothy was first and foremost a Christian! She was a school Room Mother, active in the PTA, active in the Soroptimist, both locally and nationally. She was a wonderful seamstress and a member and then Board Chair for La Grande's Election Board. She was the TOPS Coordinator for most of Oregon and Eastern Washington for 20 years. She was a long-time member of Pioneer Park Church of God, where she held almost every position possible.

Having survived numerous types of cancer, kidney failure forced her to move from La Grande to Hermiston in 1997 to live with daughter, Laurie. She traveled three times a week to Pasco, Washington for dialysis treatments. While in Hermiston, she attended the First Christian Church where she continued serving by helping with bulletins and calling for church Board meetings.
Survivors include her children, Laurie S. Ball of Hermiston, Richard Davis of Reno, Nevada, Barbara Mehuron of Milwaukie and Loren Davis of Portland; daughter-in-law, Charlene Storoe of La Grande; son-in-law, Aubrey "Sid" Sidwell of Tonopah, Arizona; eight grandchildren; twelve great-grandchildren; many nieces and nephews; in-laws, Donald Davis of Orangeville, Utah, Eileen Conner of La Grande, Myron Mortier of Dayton, Washington, Lester Mortier of Beaverton and Patsy Leighton of Beaverton and their families. She was preceded in death by her husband, Elmer, in 1996, her parents and a great grandchild.


In lieu of flowers donations may be made to the Dorothy Davis Memorial Fund, to help with medical expenses, in care of Daniels Chapel of the Valley, 1502 7th Street, La Grande, Oregon 97850

Some words from Dorothy----

"Some may think I'm disappointed with the way my life turned out - you're wrong. ‘Tho I never attained financial wealth, I am wealthy. I'm wealthy in family and in the friends who have blessed me along my way. You saw my flaws - and loved me anyway. You treated me with love, respect and dignity. You trusted me with meaningful tasks, even though you knew my limitations, so I could continue to be of service. You knew that God's blessings, every day, gave me any courage I had to continue to fight the "good fight". I would never have been given these last several years without your intercessory prayers on my behalf. Were they worth it? You bet! I saw and felt the love of new friends and church family who I know my daughter Laurie will need. I had the honor of seeing and/or holding all but one of my grandchildren and great grandchildren, who are so loved by me. I've been blessed with namesakes - Elizabeth May and Amanda Elisabeth, as well as the joy in Kristopher and Nicholas being named for my loving husband, Elmer "Santa Claus" Davis, whom I now join. My heart is filled with love for each one of you, for the impact you had on my life, and peace - for I know where I go. Thank you for your help in the difficult days before and those now before my family and friends. Until I see you again, may each of your lives be as richly blessed as you have blessed mine."