Dorothy Marie Young Davis

Dorothy M. Davis, age 96, longtime resident of Potter, NE passed away in Sidney, October 2, 2018. Funeral services will be held at 11:00 A.M., Saturday, October 20th in the Prairie West Church in Potter with Pastor Betsy Galloway-Carew officiating. Burial will be in the Potter Cemetery. Luncheon provided by Potter United Methodist Women. In lieu of flowers, memorials can be made to Prairie West Church Keep the Doors Open. Friends may stop at the Gehrig-Stitt Chapel on Friday October 19th from 1-7:00 P.M. to sign Dorothy’s register book and leave condolences for the family. You may view Dorothy’s Book of Memories, leave condolences, photos and stories at www.gehrigstittchapel.com.
Dorothy Marie Young was born on a farm west of Dalton, NE in the Autumn of 1922 to Earl and Christene (Keen) Young. A short time later the family moved to Nebraska City to farm and be near their extended family. Dorothy’s only sibling Doris was born in eastern Nebraska.
The girls started school in Nebraska City but when Dorothy was ready to enter the 3rd Grade the family moved west for good and the girls attended Center and Harmony schools near Dalton. Dorothy boarded “in town” to attend Sidney High where she graduated in 1939. She continued her education at Chadron State College for one year then moved to Denver, Co where she completed course work at Denver School of Business. She worked as a payroll clerk at Mountain States Telephone Co. for 3 years during World War II. It was at this time, at a USO dance she met her future husband, Raymond L. Davis, a handsome army recruit from New York State.
Ray and Dorothy married in 1945 at the Potter Methodist Church, always telling folks it was April fool’s Day, but it really was also Easter! When Ray was discharged from service they moved to a farm north west of Potter where they lived for 56 years. At retirement, they moved “to town”, to Potter for 10 years before moving to the Village in Scottsbluff, Ne in 2011. In April of 2018 Dorothy moved to Sidney Regional Medical Center Extended Care. She died just a few weeks after her 96th birthday.
Dorothy and Ray raised two children, Steve and Carol Rae. She was a Cub Scout Den Mother, a 4-H Leader, Potter High Pep support and Wheat Heart Queen Committee Chair. Dorothy was a member of many civic organizations including Potter-Dix Garden Club, What-so-Ever Club, Pioneer Extension, Potter Lions Club, Potter Senior Citizens, PCI.
Dorothy and Ray spent many hours promoting wheat and wheat markets. They traveled worldwide in this endeavor and opened their home to several agricultural exchange students from France wanting first-hand experience in American farming practices. There was always a harvest meal on the table when international agricultural delegations visited her home.
Dorothy was a 50+ year member of Potter United Methodist Church, serving on the Alter Committee for over thirty years. She taught Sunday school and held almost every office available in United Methodist Women. She was a member of the Order of Eastern Star for over 66 years enjoying her terms as Grand Representative. She worked tirelessly with the Nebraska Wheat Hearts receiving Wheat Heart of the Year in 1972.
Dorothy loved cards, bowling, ballroom dancing, square dancing, bird watching, flower arranging, gardening, cruising and making a party wherever she went. Then came the grandchildren and eventually the great-grands! She was always ready to show them a very good time and just where she kept her special stash of candy.
Dorothy is preceded in death by her parents, her husband, Ray, an infant son, Raymond Earl, her daughter Carol Rae and by her brothers-in-law, Charles Weir and Robert Davis.
She is survived by her sister, Doris Weir of Pueblo, CO; her son Dr. Steven O. Davis and his wife, Margaret, Boise, ID and Potter, NE; Granddaughter Emily Kane and her husband Brian, Boise, ID; Grandson Dustin Emery, Houston, TX; Great-Grands Zoe Kane and Owen Kane, Boise, ID; her nieces Cheryl Hafer, Colorado Springs, CO, Susan and her husband Mike Stapleton, Pueblo CO and her nephew C. Rodney Weir and his wife Mary, Kailua, HI.