Obituary for Alma Marie Davis Alma Marie (Blacklock) Davis passed from this life into eternity on April 12, 2018, at 8:05 a.m., held close and guided by the gentle hands of her personal Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and being reunited with loved ones that have entered the gates of heaven before her. Alma was born on August 30, 1926, to Ray Vallie and Inez (Doerr) Blacklock. She attended and graduated from Vergennes High School in 1942.
She later graduated from Miss Hickey’s Business College in St. Louis, MO. Alma worked for the Leppert Roos Fur Company in St. Louis, MO, until she met a young man by the name of Loran Davis. They married on June 15, 1946.
They settled on family property in Vergennes, IL, and raised four children–Loran E. Davis Jr., Donna M. (Davis) Whitaker Mitchell, Barry L. Davis, and Marty L. Davis. Alma was a dedicated member of the Vergennes Wesley United Methodist Church. Her love for her God and her devotion to do his work through the church will never be forgotten.
She was the driving force that spearheaded the election-day dinner that raised funds for the missions of the church. Alma and so many other sweet ladies of the church and community pitched in to help on that day. People would come from miles around to eat a noon-day meal at the church consisting of the famous chicken and dumplings and the best turnips anyone would ever eat.
But the annual dinner ceased being held when Alma’s health conditions rendered her no longer able to manage the huge task of cooking. She also served as the church pianist for many years until, again, her health forbid her from continuing to serve. She would still be at the piano bench even today if she was able.
Alma was one of God’s true and trusted servants, and a perfect model of how we are to serve. Alma was a member of the Murphysboro White Shrine of Jerusalem and held the office of Worthy High Priestess. She and Loran enjoyed traveling the United States attending many White Shrine Conventions, making many new friends along the way.
She was a member of the Jackson County Home Extension and Methodist Women. Alma was the world’s best cook, especially dumplings and pies. She also was an avid gardener, bookkeeper, excellent seamstress, PTA mom to all of her kids, teacher, disciplinarian, canning expert, cow herder, dairy farmer, and the list goes on.
She excelled in taking nothing and making it into a banquet fit for a king for her family. She didn’t think twice about being a grand-parent baby sitter, caring for of all of her grandchildren and loving them equally and taking them with her wherever she needed to go. She taught her grandchildren proper manners, ethics and how to be a good, honest, hard-working person–positive attributes that her grandchildren will always carry with them as a loving, lasting testimony to her that they can also pass on.
But most important of all, she taught them about the love that her Savior Jesus Christ had for her and everyone who accepts him as personal savior. Alma was plagued with numerous health conditions during the latter part of her life. She was constantly challenged by physical obstacles due to her debilitating bone disease, but she never complained.
She would just push through it and ultimately, which was her habit, she would try to do too much and get herself in a mess. Her attitude toward life, and how she would not let disparities get in her way, is a gift to her family as a legacy, and part of their arsenal when dealing with life’s challenges. She touched the hearts of everyone she met.
Her tenacity, or in her children’s words, stubborn determination, was the one attribute that everyone marveled at. Survivors include her four children, one daughter, Donna Whitaker Mitchell (Scott) of Olney, IL, three sons, Loran E. Davis Jr. (Carol) of Shelbyville, IL, Barry L. Davis (Theresa) of Murphysboro, IL, and Marty L. Davis (Susan) of Vergennes, IL; one brother, Ray B Blacklock of Naples, Florida; nine grandchildren, Heather Seaton, Corey Davis, Jamie (Bob) Newell, Deana Whitaker (Chad Stanley), Justin Whitaker, Aundrea (Jason) Mahoney, Quint (Dava) Davis, Kyle (Nicole) Davis, and Britni Davis; fourteen great-grandchildren, Schyler Thompson, Bailey Fleming, Jayden Fleming, Kurt Seaton, Rylee Davis, Macy Whitaker, Olivia Davis, Ella Davis, Carson Davis, Wyatt Whitaker, Halli Stanley, Harrison Davis, Hannah Mahoney, and Lakota Davis. She has four step-grandchildren, Bradley Mitchell, Jonathan Mitchell, Tyler Mitchell, and Bailey Thompson.
She has one great-step-grandchild, Waylen Fulford. Hazel Odum of Marion, IL, and Dorothy McKinnies of Florida, her sisters-in-law, who are more like sisters, along with numerous nieces and nephews also survive. In addition to her parents, she was also preceded in death by her husband of 64 years, Loran E. Davis, one son-in-law, Arol Whitaker, and one sister-in-law, Gloria J. Blacklock.
Funeral services will be on Monday, April 16, 2018, at 11 a.m. at Wesley United Methodist Church in Vergennes. Dr. Roger Lyons and Rev. Angela Ransom will officiate; burial will follow at Parrish Cemetery in Vergennes.
Visitation will be on Sunday from 5 to 8 p.m. at Wesley United Methodist Church in Vergennes and on Monday at the church from 9 to the hour of services. For memorials in honor of Alma, her family requests donations to Parrish Cemetery Association or Wesley United Methodist Church in Vergennes. To send flowers or a memorial gift to the family of Alma Marie Davis please visit our Sympathy Store.
Today’s Events Visitation 2018 APR 15. 05:00 PM – 08:00 PM Wesley United Methodist Church 345 Cherry Avenue Vergennes, IL, US, 62994 Upcoming Events Visitation 2018 APR 16. 09:00 AM – 11:00 AM Wesley United Methodist Church 345 Cherry Avenue Vergennes, IL, US, 62994 2018 APR 16.
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