Elizabeth Davis

Elizabeth Margaret Davis (Liz), 95, went to be with her Lord and Savior and join her loved ones in heaven Dec. 31, 2011, at the Whitefish Care and Rehabilitation Center in Whitefish. She died of natural causes while being surrounded by her loving family.

Elizabeth was born April 15, 1916 in Ottumwa, Iowa. Her parents were Ralph and Margaret Anthony. She was the oldest of three girls. Her sisters' names were Mary and Francis. She was raised and attended schools in Ottumwa, Iowa.

Elizabeth was employed by John Morrell Meat Packing. She met Donald Davis (her future husband) at a John Morrell picnic. They were married Jan. 10, 1935, but kept their marriage a secret so they could both keep their jobs at John Morrell.

While working at John Morrell, Elizabeth witnessed Don step in front of a 3,000 pound falling I-beam and hold it until the other men could stand clear. The strength she witnessed was nothing compared to the strength in the love they had for each other. Elizabeth eventually gave up her job to a man who needed work to provide for his family.

After marrying, Don and Elizabeth started their family and bought their first farm in 1948. When they moved to the farm, they had six children. Four additional children were born on the farm, making a total of seven boys and three girls.

While running the first farm, they purchased a gas station. They named the gas station Davis D-X and ran in it 24/7. Elizabeth kept the books while taking care of all the children. While running Davis D-X, three more children were born, creating a total of 13 children. Eventually they sold the first farm so that all of the boys could help run the gas station.

In 1958, Don and Elizabeth sold the gas station, and purchased a house in town for a short time. That year they bought their second farm, a 210 acre farm outside of Ottumwa where they grew soybeans, corn and alfalfa. They raised pigs, chickens and cows, as well as tending a huge garden.

Elizabeth taught her children to cook, mend and butcher chickens and pigs. She taught them gardening and canning and to make do with what they had. She was well known for her fried chicken, "the best cinnamon rolls ever," made-from-scratch home-cooked meals, and especially her homemade chicken noodle soup with hand rolled noodles.

Although a woman of small stature, she was tough and had ways to keep order in her home. Some of these included a broom across the back or a hot cup of coffee in your lap. Just enough to break up the fights amongst her rambunctious children. She pushed her oldest son through a wall at one point to break up a fight amongst her sons.

In the spring of 1962, they sold the second farm and moved to Colorado, looking to provide their children more schooling and job opportunities. Elizabeth continued to take care of her growing family, which now included grandchildren. She was always positive, uplifting and had a great smile. In 1976, after their youngest son graduated from high school, Don and Elizabeth moved to Coram. A handshake and a five dollar bill secured the purchase of their log cabin in Coram.

When Elizabeth wasn't in the kitchen cooking big meals for her visiting children, grandchildren and great grandchildren, she could be found with her husband Don sitting around a bonfire, sharing stories and providing encouragement inspired by her great faith in Jesus.

Elizabeth was a member of St. Richard's Catholic church in Columbia Falls. In the early days, Elizabeth and Don would load up the children to attend Sunday services. While Elizabeth took the older children to church, Don (a Baptist) would stay in the car and take care of the smaller children who were too squirmy to sit for Mass. From the very beginning, that was the way they managed church.

Elizabeth was born a Roman Catholic, and Don did whatever his wife told him to do, including having children. One day her fifth son asked her how many children she planned on having. Her response was, it's none of your business. He said he was just wondering how they were going to feed everybody. This is where Elizabeth's faith came in. She knew God would provide for her growing family.

Many people have said that Elizabeth was the most Godly woman that they have ever known. She had true faith and was a living angel to her children. She was full of Agape love, unconditional love, no strings attached love. It was her mission to be a witness until the day she died. She was successful in her mission.

Her home was a sanctuary for her huge family to gather. Her door was always open, the woodstove always warm. She was always cooking. After taking care of her own family, Elizabeth would go out alone to feed transients and homeless from the food cooked by her hands in her kitchen. She raised her children to be survivors, and her mothering didn't stop at home. She carried it into the streets.

She was a witness in her own town. She didn't drive or ride a bike, and she knew in her heart she didn't need to go far to be a witness. When she did need to travel, she took the bus. She got to know the route well one July, because every day for four months, she took the bus to be with her youngest son as he healed from a terrible accident. She had a wild hair, and in 1933 took the train and traveled alone from Ottumwa, Iowa, to the World Fair in Chicago, Ill.

"We, as a family, feel that Elizabeth should be escorted into Sainthood. Her life shines. Her pale blue eyes, smile, love, wisdom and gentleness that she showed toward everyone, left a legacy as deep as the roots in an old growth pine."

Elizabeth was preceded in death by her mom and dad Ralph and Margaret Anthony; sisters Mary Fisk and Francis Stevenson; husband Donald C. Davis; son Gary A. Davis; son Donald M. Davis; granddaughter Lisa Rene Davis; grandson Jacob Dean Davis; and granddaughter Daneya Renee Piland.

Elizabeth's legacy is survived by her daughter-in-law Karen Davis, of Whitefish, and Karen's three children, eight grandchildren and four great grandchildren; David and Sue Davis, of Kalispell, and their four children and eight grandchildren; Bernard T. Davis, of Littleton, Colo.; John S. and Terri Davis, of Coram, and their five children and two grandchildren; Tom and Bonnie Davis, of Columbia Falls, and their five children, 12 grandchildren and one great grandchild; Donna and Monty Graham, of Columbia Falls, and their three children and six grandchildren; Mike and Susie Davis, of Columbia Falls, and their three children and six grandchildren; Mary and Mike Ogden, of Columbia Falls, and their two children and five grandchildren; Linda and Jeff Stonner, of Aurora, Colo., and their three children; Anna Maria and Eddie Pettinger, of Westminster, Colo., and their two children and five grandchildren; Jeannie Darling, of Columbia Falls, and her three children and five grandchildren; and Dennis Davis, of Missoula, and his four children and three grandchildren.

The family suggests memorials be sent to St. Richard's Catholic Church to help feed those in need. The family also encourages that those reading this to reach out to their elders by way of phone call or a visit. Life is short.

Funeral services were held Jan. 6, 2012, at St. Richard's Catholic Church, in Columbia Falls.

To offer condolences and view Elizabeth's tribute wall, visit online at www.columbiamortuary.com.