Vivian M Davis

Born February 18, 1924 in Dalton, Arkansas to Charley Newton and Nettie Leann (Agnew) King, she married James Davis on February 15, 1944 in Reno, Nevada.  He died on August 21, 2007. Her parents and her ten brothers and sisters; Leo King, Woodrow King, Glen King, Thurman King, Paul Stephens, George Stephens, and Leona Adams (all from the Pocahontas, Arkansas area), Eva Pirtle (Atlanta, Georgia), Mable Westfall, Stella Westfall (Stillwater Oklahoma), preceded her in death.

She was a wonderful mother to her surviving daughter, Peggy Sue Messer (Dave) of East Peoria and son Michael James Davis (Becky) of Tremont. She was a loving grandma to five grandchildren, Kim (Joe) Bolen and Jan (Shawn) Cobb both of East Peoria and Jordan, Jared and Cordon Davis of Tremont.  She was known as “granny” to five great grandchildren, Meghan and Kyle Bolen and Kortney, Bailey and Dawson Hammond.

Vivian and Jim met during World War II.  Dad was an army Sergeant stationed in California while mom and her sister Eva were working in a ship yard building ships for the navy.  After the war, they moved to Michigan when Dad got work as an ironworker before getting seriously injured.  They then moved to Pocahontas where they managed their own restaurant business for a time.  Upon selling the business, Dad went back to ironwork moving between Peoria and Michigan before finally settling in the Peoria area to raise their family.  In the early 80’s they retired to Kimberling City, Missouri on Table Rock Lake.  While they lived there, they enjoyed fishing and lake activities, going to country music shows, Silver Dollar City, and shopping for antiques and crafts.  It was a real vacation for family members to go down and visit them.  Mom and Dad moved back to the Peoria area in 1989 and built a beautiful home on Venado Lakes in Delavan to be closer to their children and grandchildren.  Vivian was dedicated to her family and made it her life’s mission taking care of  them.  In addition to fishing and boating, her other hobbies included gardening and working in her yard.  She especially loved her rose bushes and flowers that attracted the birds she loved to watch.  Mom and Dad were also avid “antiquers” and for a while were licensed dealers buying and selling antiques.  Mom loved to play cards (especially pinochle) and belonged to several card “clubs”.  She graciously entertained her friends and family as there was always plenty of delicious food whenever people gathered at her house.  Mom was a member of White Shrine and Eastern Star in Pekin.  Mom and Dad enjoyed their remaining days together cheering at their grandchildren’s sporting events, travelling to family reunions, working in the yard or garden, and watching Cardinals baseball. 

In the summer of 2001, Mom was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease and in October 2002, she moved to Pekin Manor.  Her family wishes to extend our sincere thanks to the nurses and staff of Pekin Manor and Harbor Light Hospice who took care of Mom while she courageously battled this disease for the last seven years of her life.  She passed away in God’s arms, sleeping peacefully and without any pain.  She was a wonderful and loving Mother and Grandmother and will be deeply missed by her family; but we take comfort knowing that she has been reunited with Dad in heaven and free of her affliction. 

Her funeral will be at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday, November 11, 2009 at the Preston-Hanley Funeral Home, Pekin Chapel.  Pastor Kent Smith of Harvest Bible Chapel will officiate.  Visitation will be from 5 to 7 p.m. Tuesday and also from 10 to 10:30 a.m. Wednesday, both at the funeral home.  Burial will be in Glendale Memorial Gardens in Pekin.  Memorials may be made in Vivian’s name to the Alzheimer’s Association Central Illinois Chapter, 606 West Glen Avenue, Peoria, IL 61614, in hopes of finding a cure for this devastating disease.