Dorothy R. Davis

Dorothy Rae Davis went to her heavenly home on December 29, 2021 at her home in Mason, Michigan. She passed from natural causes and was surrounded by her family. Dorothy was born on April 2, 1929 to Ray Otto Carpenter and Lois Ellen Carpenter (Hooper) in Calhoun County Michigan. She lived on their farm in Olivet for most of her childhood and attended Olivet Public Schools. After graduation she was employed as a telephone operator for Michigan Bell in Charlotte and married Virgil Dean Davis on December 20, 1947. She lived with her husband and four children in Charlotte Michigan for most of her adult life and retired from AT&T in Lansing MI after 41 years of service.
Dorothy enjoyed traveling, walking, reading, flower gardening, playing dominoes and Euchre with family, as well as cooking and entertaining family in her home. Dorothy and her husband Virgil enjoyed camping with their children and family most of all. They camped throughout Michigan, the United States, and Canada. They were property owners at Lakes of the North near Gaylord, Michigan and spent many weeks there with family and friends every year. Dorothy began attending the annual Mackinaw Bridge Walk with her family and was proud to have walked more than 100 miles across the straights of Mackinaw on Labor Day. Dorothy and Virgil also loved RVing around the country and had a special fondness of the Smokey Mountains in the spring and Sedona, Arizona in the winter months.
Dorothy was an active member in the Communication Workers of America and The Red Hat Society, as well as a volunteer for the Eaton County Meals on Wheels Program. She was a volunteer and board member of the Eaton Special Riding Volunteer Association (horseback riding program for children with disabilities) as well as a Cub Scout leader.
Dorothy was a loving and devoted mother who often said her children were her legacy. Anyone who knew her thought she was the kindest person they had ever met. It is her children’s hope her legacy will live on through the life lessons she taught. Some of the most important lessons included actively reaching out and taking care of your family, spending time every day being grateful, forgiving all (even when they don’t ask for it), taking care of the vulnerable, and immersing yourself in the awesomeness of nature.
Dorothy is survived by her sister Charlene Masters, son Michael (Nancy) Davis, son Mark (Chris) Davis, daughter Jodi (Jeremy) Brace, and her daughter-in-law Debra Davis. She is also survived by her grandchildren Mery, Kristal, Nicholas, Melissa, Nicole, Michael and Matthew, as well as seven great grandchildren, many nieces, nephews, and friends.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Ray and Lois Carpenter, husband Virgil Davis, son Greg Davis, sister Betty (Winton) Hice, sister Jean (Robert) Denbrock, brother Dennis (Patricia) Carpenter, and sister-in-law Margie Godfrey.
Cremation has taken place and a memorial service will be announced at a later date. Memorial donations may be made to Eaton Special Riding Volunteer Association (1790 Packard Hwy. Charlotte, MI 48813) or Sparrow Home Hospice (1210 W. Saginaw St. Lansing, MI 48915).
To view Dorothy’s obituary online or to leave a condolence for the family please visit www.burkhead-green-kilgo.com
The family is being served by the Burkhead-Green-Kilgo Funeral Home.