Dorothy Louise Davis March 26, 1920 – April 23, 2019 Share this obituary View/Sign Guest Book| Send Private Condolences| Send Sympathy Card Dorothy Louise Davis, 99 of North Platte, passed away Tuesday, April 23, 2019 at Barnes-Jewish Hospital, St. Peters, Mo. Born on March 26, 1920 to William A. and Maude (Miller) Campbell in North Platte, NE, Dotty was the 5th of 8 children. She met and fell in love with Jack L. Davis while living in Cheyenne, WY, where he was stationed with the United States Army.
They married March 7, 1938 in Kearney, NE and were blessed with four daughters; Sandy, Sherry, Karen, and Kathy. Dotty was primarily a homemaker throughout her married life. During World War II, when the men were called to war, Dotty was one of the first ten women in North Platte to be hired by the Union Pacific to fill the men’s positions.
She and the other women of the railroad were honored during North Platte’s 2011 Rail Fest and in the book “Powered Up” by Ann Milton. She was also one of the many women of North Platte who provided refreshments and hospitality at The Canteen to the soldiers traveling through. In order or provide a better life, Jack and Dotty moved their family to California in 1957 where they enjoyed the sunshine and loved maintaining their beautiful yard and growing flowers year-round.
Although they lived in several places over the course of their 63 years of marriage, North Platte was always Dotty’s true home, so upon retirement in 1978 they returned to North Platte to live out their golden years. They joined the 21 Dance Club and Dotty continued dancing weekly at the Senior Center until age 97. Dotty had a great sense of humor, she enjoyed reminiscing, story-telling, dancing, music, dressing up, flower gardening, playing cards and games, visiting with friends, her cats, and she loved her family more than life its self.
She is survived by many who loved her, including daughters, Sheryl (Dennis) Desy of St. Louis, Karen Stearns, and Kathy Davis of North Platte; son-in-law, Buck Ripple of North Platte; 6 grandchildren, Michael (Carol) Ripple and Mark Ripple of North Platte, Pamela (Eric) Krause, Julie Oliver and Jennifer Desy of St. Louis, and Gregg (Lisel) Stearns of Lincoln; 10 great-grandchildren; 5 great-great-grandchildren; brother, Alvin Campbell of Springfield, MO; sister, Lela Aboe of Grants Pass, OR; and many nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends. She was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Jack; daughter, Sandra Ripple; step-granddaughter, Theresa Vierya; son-in-law, Dave Stearns; and her sisters and brothers-in-law, Viola (George) Halsey, Evelyn (Ernest) Johnson, Helen (Earl) West, Kathryn (Howard) Everley, Betty (Bill) Strauss; brother-in-law, Dean Aboe; and sister-in-law, Evelyn Campbell. Dotty is at peace now; God having taken her gently by the hand to end her terrible struggle with dementia and reunite her with loved ones that reached Heaven before her.
She will be missed by all those who knew and loved her. The family wishes to thank her special care givers from Home Instead and her loving care givers at the Villages of Saint Peters Memory Care. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Alzheimer’s Association, PAWS-itive Partners in North Platte, or the charity of your choice.
Online condolences may be shared at www. adamsswanson.com. Cremation was chosen.
Memorial services will be held 2:00 p.m. Friday, May 3, 2019 at Adams & Swanson Chapel with Chaplain Gary Smith officiating. Inurnment will follow at Ft. McPherson National Cemetery.
Those wishing to do so may sign the register book from 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. Thursday, May 2, 2019 at Adams and Swanson Funeral Home which is in charge of arrangements.
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