Services were held Friday at North Modesto Church of God in Modesto, for Shirley Jean Reeves Davis, 82, of Ceres. She died April 23, 2012 after a brave battle.
Born June 21, 1929 in Des Moines, Iowa to Clara and Elton Reeves, Shirley graduated from Lincoln High School and working briefly. She married and had four children before moving to California in 1963. She spent several years working for various airlines as a single mother, also moonlighting as an alterations specialist. Shirley met the love of her life, Delphin Davis, in 1973. She never looked back, moving forward in her new life to Alaska. After retiring, she and Del moved back to the lower 48 to be closer to her family. Shirley loved her world travel, her garden and especially her family. Mrs. Davis was heavily involved in her community, as an active member of the Ceres Garden Club, Persephone Guild, the Ceres Historic Society, and Scottish Rite. For several years she portrayed Mrs. Claus at the opening of Christmas Tree Lane in Ceres along with Del playing Santa. One of her proudest accomplishments was writing and publishing a book about "My Life in Alaska." The Ceres Chamber of Commerce honored her in January 2010 by naming her 2009 Citizen of the Year.
She leaves behind her loving husband, Delphin Davis of Ceres; her children, Nancy Johnson of Ceres, Clare Atkins of Tracy, and Grant Erickson of Newberg, Ore.; her step-children, Darwin Davis of Napa and Troy Davis of Piedmont; her sister, Alice Mitchell of Pleasanton; her brother, Al Reeves of Des Moines, Ia.; 13 grandchildren and six great-grandchildren. She was preceeded in death by son Lynn Erickson, step-daughter Janet Davis and grandson Clint Johnson.
In lieu of flowers remembrances may be sent to North Modesto Church of God, 1918 Sherwood Ave., Modesto CA 95350-3149.
-Ceres Courier/ May 2, 2012
Born June 21, 1929 in Des Moines, Iowa to Clara and Elton Reeves, Shirley graduated from Lincoln High School and working briefly. She married and had four children before moving to California in 1963. She spent several years working for various airlines as a single mother, also moonlighting as an alterations specialist. Shirley met the love of her life, Delphin Davis, in 1973. She never looked back, moving forward in her new life to Alaska. After retiring, she and Del moved back to the lower 48 to be closer to her family. Shirley loved her world travel, her garden and especially her family. Mrs. Davis was heavily involved in her community, as an active member of the Ceres Garden Club, Persephone Guild, the Ceres Historic Society, and Scottish Rite. For several years she portrayed Mrs. Claus at the opening of Christmas Tree Lane in Ceres along with Del playing Santa. One of her proudest accomplishments was writing and publishing a book about "My Life in Alaska." The Ceres Chamber of Commerce honored her in January 2010 by naming her 2009 Citizen of the Year.
She leaves behind her loving husband, Delphin Davis of Ceres; her children, Nancy Johnson of Ceres, Clare Atkins of Tracy, and Grant Erickson of Newberg, Ore.; her step-children, Darwin Davis of Napa and Troy Davis of Piedmont; her sister, Alice Mitchell of Pleasanton; her brother, Al Reeves of Des Moines, Ia.; 13 grandchildren and six great-grandchildren. She was preceeded in death by son Lynn Erickson, step-daughter Janet Davis and grandson Clint Johnson.
In lieu of flowers remembrances may be sent to North Modesto Church of God, 1918 Sherwood Ave., Modesto CA 95350-3149.
-Ceres Courier/ May 2, 2012
