Lucy Gloria Davis

Lucy Gloria Davis was a loving wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, sister and friend. She went to be with our Lord on February 8, 2022 at age 91 following a three-year battle with brain cancer. She was born to her parents, Thomas William Gill and Eura Viola (Pounds) Gill on December 1, 1930. She grew up on her parent’s farm in Richmond, Arkansas, where they raised everything they ate. Even in her old age, Gloria complained about all the hours spent canning every summer with her mother! She graduated from high school in Ashdown, Arkansas, and was named to membership in the National Honor Society. She often jokingly reminded her children that intelligence is inherited from their mother. Gloria participated in various other clubs including band, basketball and drama. She was also a talented pianist which she put to good use as a church pianist until her hands became too arthritic. Gloria accepted Jesus as her Lord and Savior at a young age and was involved in various ministries including nursery worker and Sunday school teacher in her adult years. After high school, she resided in El Paso, Texas, where her brother, Eddie, lived. There she was employed at the Federal Reserve Bank, having previously been with the Newspaper Printing Corporation.

She met her future husband, William (Bill) Davis Jr, on a blind date with her sister, Charlene and future brother-in-law, Edward Hawkins. Gloria and Bill fell in love that night. That was it! They were married on December 26, 1951. Their three children Kim, Karin and William (Bill) Thomas III, completed their family. They raised their family in various locations including Colorado, Wyoming, Canada, Arkansas and Nevada following Bill’s job as a geologist. Gloria was known for making every house a home. She had a creative decorating style and even worked for a short time as an interior designer in Denver, Colorado. Bill and Gloria loved traveling all over the world including Hawaii, the Caribbean and Mexico. Later she visited Indonesia, China, Australia and France with her son’s family. They also entertained frequently with Bill cooking the main course and Gloria baking the dessert. Gloria often told anyone who would listen what a privilege it was for her to be able to stay home and raise her children. As her children grew, she enjoyed being a grandmother then a great-grandmother. After her husband, Bill, died in 1991, Gloria moved to Lafayette, Colorado, where she transformed her new home into a peaceful garden oasis. She delighted in the many close friendships she formed there that lasted up until her death.

In 2019, Gloria moved to Durango, Colorado, to live with her daughter, Kim, and her son-in-law, Doug, as she battled glioblastoma. She was a true southern lady. Even in casual Durango, she wore her pearls and coordinating outfits to visit her doctors. When visitors came, she believed in getting out of bed, dressing and offering refreshments. She couldn’t be dissuaded from giving warm hugs to everyone even in the time of Covid. Her priorities in life were God, her cat, her family, desserts, her garden, her sweet friends and keeping up with the news even to the end.

She was predeceased by her parents, Tom and Eura, her eight brothers: Roy, Hubert, Watt, Paul, James, Eddie, Charles, Billy and sister, Lois Horn, husband (Bill) William Davis Jr. and son, (Bill), William Davis III. She is survived by her daughters Kim Rabick (Doug), Karin Waters (Geoff), and daughter-in-law Kim Davis (Tyler Beasley); her grandchildren Laura (Jake) Ricks, Matt (Emily) Waters, Tom (Seoyeon) Waters, Connor and Jonathon Davis; her great-grandchildren Ava, Maddox and Savannah Ricks; her adored sister, Charlene Hawkins and many nieces and nephews. Seeing how she hated cold weather, her memorial will be held at a later, warmer date.

As Gloria’s health declined, we were blessed with a incredible medical team. Our gratitude goes out to the many professionals who helped us care for her but especially those at Mercy Hospice Care: Sabrina, Lily and Kirstin who provided valued assistance.