Emily Davis

EMILY L. DAVIS OREM, UT -- Emily Lorraine England Davis, age 103, a devoted and much loved mother, grandmother, great and great-great grandmother to a large extended family has completed her mortal probation and has moved on to the next step of eternal progression and has joined her parents, brothers, sisters and husband who greeted her in paradise on June 5, 2004. She is survived by one brother, James W. (Afton) England of Bountiful, Utah. She was born the fourth child of Joseph Henry and Hilma Berntson England on October 11, 1900 at Baker, Oregon. Her siblings are Joseph H., Virginia (George) Hobusch, Wallace (Marvel)England, Martha (Howard) Call, David (Helen) England, and Jim (Afton) England. Except for Jim (Afton) they preceded her in death along with three sons-in-law (Bill Ashton, Jay Kearnes, and Ray Groth) and one daughter-in-law (Myrle Chantrill Davis). She loved her grandparents who were products of the early LDS missionary program who immigrated to the United States from England and Sweden. At the age of 5 her family moved to Logan, Utah where she was raised and schooled. She loved Logan and all her family and friends there. She met David Walter Davis from Idaho Falls, Idaho who was attending Brigham Young Academy, Logan. After a whirl-wind courtship he convinced her that he loved her and with her fathers permission they were married in Logan on March 17, 1918. They were sealed in the Logan Temple of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints on June 26, 1918. As a 17 year old bride she and Walt moved to Idaho Falls where they were blessed with six children and 29 grandchildren (including Bill David (Pat) Ashton and Mon’nette Ashton Bell (Roy) Reynolds of the Idaho Falls area), 130 great grandchildren and 60 great great grandchildren for a total of 219 and still counting. After 57 years of marriage David Walter died in 1975. All five of her sons served in the armed forces during war-time (WW II and Korea) and returned home safely. No children or grandchildren have preceded her in death. Emily was a devoted wife and mother who understood the importance of the eternal family. There was nothing more satisfying to her than to see her family understand the true meaning of life. She loved her Savior and enjoyed serving him in all of the auxiliaries of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. She taught and served as the president or counselor in the Relief Society and Primary. Several of her Primary children became Church General Authorities. She was a talented musician and her greatest joy was achieved as a choir or chorus director. She was thrilled to lead a group of the Relief Society singing mothers in the Salt Lake Tabernacle. She was very industrious as she spent many hours in her flower and vegetable gardens. She was a great cook; she loved to sew, crochet, make quilts and made afghans and quilts for all her children and grand children. She spent many happy hours at her piano. Her children are Elaine Ashton Kearnes Groth of Idaho Falls, ID; Walter J. (Geridene) Davis, Orem, UT; James M. (Marge) Davis, Lehi, UT; J. Warren (Barbara) Davis, Provo, UT; Ralph G. (Jeanine) Davis, Valencia, CA; and Gerald E. (Sue) Davis, Highland, UT. The family expresses deep appreciation to friends, neighbors, and family who assisted, and helped care for and loved her while she lived as a widow in Idaho Falls for 28 years. She moved to Orem, Utah in 2003 to live with her son, Walt and his wife, Geridene. Later in 2003 she moved to a Beehive Assisted Living complex. The family wishes to extend heartfelt thanks to the fine staff of Beehive Homes (800 East in Orem) and the Alpine Home Care and the Alpine Hospice for their tireless care rendered to our mother and grandmother. A celebration of her life will be held at 2:00 p.m. Thursday, June 10, 2004 at the Suncrest Tenth LDS Ward Chapel, 90 North 600 West, Orem, Utah, where friends and family may call Thursday from 12:30 to 1:45 p.m. Services under the direction of Olpin Family Mortuary, Pleasant Grove, Utah. Funeral Services will also be held in the Idaho Falls Third Ward Chapel, 2025 Jennie Lee Drive, Idaho Falls, on Saturday, June 12, 2004, at 11:00 a.m. Friends and family may call Saturday from 9:30 to 10:45 a.m. at the church. Services under the direction of Wood Funeral Home, Idaho Falls, ID. Interment will follow in the Ammon City Cemetery. In lieu of flowers the family requests donations be made to the LDS Perpetual Education Fund or Primary Children’s Hospital P. O. Box 58249 Salt Lake City, UT 84158-0249