Arlene Esther Davis
November 20, 1924 — April 14, 2019
Arlene Esther Pattee Davis was born on the Rock Ranch southeast of Hancock, Iowa on November 20, 1924. She grew up on the ranch, attending country school and then graduating from Hancock High School at age 16 in 1941 and earned the honor of All State in basketball her senior year (which her daughters just discovered a couple of weeks ago. When asked, “Mom, how could I have not known this for 67 years?” She responded, “I don’t like to brag.”) After high school, Arlene taught country school west of Hancock.
Arlene was united in marriage to Earl Lester Davis on August 22, 1946. Earl and Arlene farmed the Davis family Century Farm their entire adult years while raising their three girls Connie, Barb and Janice. Arlene worked with Earl on all aspects of the farm. In addition, she substitute taught for the Walnut Community Schools the entire time her girls were in school. Arlene had a tremendous work ethic, always finding ways to supplement the family income by raising and selling chickens, selling eggs and milking cows, and growing and canning much of the family food. She loved working hard and prided herself on being as tough as her six brothers. She always said, “I had to run faster and climb trees higher than any of them to get away from them.”
She loved to garden and was especially proud of her flower gardens. She did beautiful handwork, crocheting table cloths, doilies, afghans, sweaters and scarves (and even potholders right up until her last week). She made many, many beautiful quilts that adorned her and all her girls’ homes. Arlene found time to be involved in her community and her world. She was active in Trinity Lutheran Church, the Pottawattamie County election board, secretary for the township trustees and volunteered at the Cass County Memorial Hospital. Her girls were very involved in extracurricular activities, and she never missed a contest of any kind. She often did their farm chores for them when she knew they were having a particularly tough day. Earl and Arlene loved dancing, square dancing and card parties. During their retirement years, they were blessed to take a number of trips all over the country and even go camping.
Education was very important to Arlene. She did not have the opportunity to go to college, but she made sure her daughters did. She was ever so proud all three of her daughters earned doctorates in education and leadership, following her role modeling for teaching and leading.
Arlene passed from this life on April 14th at Remington Heights in Omaha, Nebraska, having attained the age of ninety-four years, four months and twenty-five days. She was preceded in death by her husband Earl; her parents William and Alma Pattee; brothers Lavern, Edward, Swede and Wallace; son-in-law Les Licklider.
Left to celebrate her life and miss her very much are: daughters Connie Eichhorn and husband Kyle, Barb Licklider and Janice Wiersema and husband Brian; grandchildren Jon and wife Anna Eichhorn, and Jana and husband Jim Egan; great granddaughter Jovie Egan and soon to arrive great grandson Jace Davis Egan; brothers Don Pattee and wife Carol; Lawrence Pattee and wife Lavina; sisters-in-law Shirley Pattee, Norma Pattee and Dorthea Petersen; and many, many nieces, nephews, cousins and other relatives and numerous friends.
The family has requested that memorial contributions be made to either:
1.) Trinity Lutheran Church - 301 N Chestnut St, Avoca, IA 51521
2.) Remington Heights - 12606 W Dodge Rd, Omaha, NE 68154
Arlene was united in marriage to Earl Lester Davis on August 22, 1946. Earl and Arlene farmed the Davis family Century Farm their entire adult years while raising their three girls Connie, Barb and Janice. Arlene worked with Earl on all aspects of the farm. In addition, she substitute taught for the Walnut Community Schools the entire time her girls were in school. Arlene had a tremendous work ethic, always finding ways to supplement the family income by raising and selling chickens, selling eggs and milking cows, and growing and canning much of the family food. She loved working hard and prided herself on being as tough as her six brothers. She always said, “I had to run faster and climb trees higher than any of them to get away from them.”
She loved to garden and was especially proud of her flower gardens. She did beautiful handwork, crocheting table cloths, doilies, afghans, sweaters and scarves (and even potholders right up until her last week). She made many, many beautiful quilts that adorned her and all her girls’ homes. Arlene found time to be involved in her community and her world. She was active in Trinity Lutheran Church, the Pottawattamie County election board, secretary for the township trustees and volunteered at the Cass County Memorial Hospital. Her girls were very involved in extracurricular activities, and she never missed a contest of any kind. She often did their farm chores for them when she knew they were having a particularly tough day. Earl and Arlene loved dancing, square dancing and card parties. During their retirement years, they were blessed to take a number of trips all over the country and even go camping.
Education was very important to Arlene. She did not have the opportunity to go to college, but she made sure her daughters did. She was ever so proud all three of her daughters earned doctorates in education and leadership, following her role modeling for teaching and leading.
Arlene passed from this life on April 14th at Remington Heights in Omaha, Nebraska, having attained the age of ninety-four years, four months and twenty-five days. She was preceded in death by her husband Earl; her parents William and Alma Pattee; brothers Lavern, Edward, Swede and Wallace; son-in-law Les Licklider.
Left to celebrate her life and miss her very much are: daughters Connie Eichhorn and husband Kyle, Barb Licklider and Janice Wiersema and husband Brian; grandchildren Jon and wife Anna Eichhorn, and Jana and husband Jim Egan; great granddaughter Jovie Egan and soon to arrive great grandson Jace Davis Egan; brothers Don Pattee and wife Carol; Lawrence Pattee and wife Lavina; sisters-in-law Shirley Pattee, Norma Pattee and Dorthea Petersen; and many, many nieces, nephews, cousins and other relatives and numerous friends.
The family has requested that memorial contributions be made to either:
1.) Trinity Lutheran Church - 301 N Chestnut St, Avoca, IA 51521
2.) Remington Heights - 12606 W Dodge Rd, Omaha, NE 68154
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