DOLORES DAVIS

IANTHA- Dorothy Dolores Davis, Iantha, Mo., passed away peacefully in her sleep at her home on July 18, 2021, after reaching her 91st birthday on July 2. Her passing celebrated her release from the ravages of the mental disease that took her mind in her final years. It was due to her daughter, Laurie, who stayed the path of commitment to care for her mom, particularly the last years of Dolores's life after dementia took her mind, and allowed Dolores to live in her home where she wanted her earthly life to end.

Dolores was baptized at the Liberal Christian Church, April 21, 1957. She was a member of the Iantha Methodist Church.

Dolores was born July 2, 1930, in Liberal, Mo., the first-born of three children of Cornelius and Inez Lenora (Cooley) Eccher. She attended Excelsior Country School, beginning at age five, and was a 1947 graduate of Liberal High School. Dolores also completed cosmetology school at Joplin, Missouri. While attending high school, Dolores worked part time as a housekeeper. Five years after her marriage, Dolores had a part-time job working evening shifts as a waitress at the Brother Adams Cafe in Lamar, Mo. She was a fast and efficient waitress and enjoyed working for the Adams family until the duties of being a young mother demanded her full time.

Dolores, who was called Grandma Dee by her grandchildren, was a devoted mother, grandmother and great-grandmother, always anxious to hear about the young ones successes, and quick to extend encouragement when they experienced disappointments. She babysat frequently in her farm home to help the busy schedules of the families until it became too much of a challenge to her physical health. Her grandchildren will always remember the shopping trip rituals with their Grandma Dee (with just one at a time) for school clothes in the fall, and then again in the spring for summer-time clothes. Her family was definitely the center of her life.

Dolores married Norman Glenn Davis on September 6, 1947, in Rogers, Arkansas. He preceded her in death on December 25, 2007. She is survived by two sons and their wives, Jerry Davis and wife Lendi, Iantha, Missouri, and Eddie Davis and wife Jerri Lynn, Lamar, Missouri; a third son, Tony Davis, Lamar, Missouri; one daughter, Laurie Davis, Lamar, Missouri; a sister, Maureen Vineyard and her husband, Ken, Maryland Heights, Missouri; a sister-in-law, Joyce Heath Eccher, St. Louis, Missouri; 9 grandchildren and 16 great-grandchildren and several nieces and nephews.

In addition to her husband and parents, she is preceded in death by a son, Terry Glenn Davis; a brother, Frank Milton Eccher; and one grandson, Landon Eugene Davis.

A private family graveside service was held July 23, 2021 at the Iantha Cemetery. Dolores was laid to rest next to her beloved second born son, Terry Glenn Davis, who passed away February 2, 1989. Pall bearers were grandsons Matt Davis, Mason Davis, Judd Davis and Jerron Davis; great grandson Ryan Davis; and Jason Spencer, husband of granddaughter Mendi Davis. After the reading of her obituary, Dolores was laid to rest with a single casket wreath composed of red roses and white and pink carnations in arrangements to represent her five children, 9 grandchildren and 16 great-grandchildren.

Donations can be made in Dolores’s memory to the Iantha Methodist Church.