Janet Marie Davis
June 29, 1934 — October 30, 2022
Our dear mother, Janet Marie Davis, 88, of Cedar Rapids, Iowa, went home to be with her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, on Sunday, October 30, 2022. A Funeral Service will be held at 10:00 a.m. on Saturday, November 5, 2022, at New Covenant Bible Church at 3090 N. Center Point Road in Cedar Rapids, with a visitation one hour prior to the service. Burial will follow at Riverside Cemetery in Marshalltown, Iowa. Murdoch Funeral Home & Cremation Service of Marion, Iowa, is assisting the family.
Mom was born on June 29, 1934, in Marshall County, Iowa to Harlan and Helen (Bowen) Harrington. She was the first of two daughters and grew up in the county near Dunbar. Mom said the only way her mother agreed to move there from Marshalltown, was if her dad (Harlan) agreed to put in indoor plumbing
Mom attended Dunbar High School, were she graduated in 1952. A year after graduation, she married her high school sweetheart, our father, Wayne Davis, on June 14, 1953. They were blessed with nearly 62 years of marriage. Soon after they were married, we began entering the picture; Steve (Amy) Davis of West Des Moines, Iowa, Cheryl (David) Eilers of Cedar Rapids, Sandi (Craig) Gero of Rock Hill, South Carolina, Ron Davis of Sycamore, Illinois and Sue (Calvin) Burrichter of Franklin, Tennessee.
Mom loved basketball and had an outstanding career in high school, where she was a 3rd Team All-State forward, back in the 6-on-6 days, and missed the state tournament at Vets Auditorium by one game, her senior year. After graduation, she had a short stint playing for a local “semi-pro” women’s team, Gas Alley, where she was the lone player that had to run both ends of the court. Later in life she even played for the Cedar Rapids Sizzlers, one of the inaugural Granny Basketball teams, “Where jumping and running were not allowed…but you could hurry.”
After a few brief years in Marshalltown, mom and dad settled in Cedar Falls for 25 years, where they raised us kids. They were always active in church. The family attended Trinity United Methodist Church every Sunday, except when out enjoying camping. After moving to Florida, mom and dad were active members of Good Shepherd United Methodist Church, where mom participated in the Evangelism Explosion program. When they moved back to Iowa, they became members of New Covenant Bible Church, where they enjoyed being part of the Pathfinders, adult Sunday School class.
Mom loved our family and their friends; whether square dancing, playing cards or camping, her presence was often the spark that lit up a room. She always had a way of making you feel so special and loved. She also had the artistic brush, that added life to many of dad’s woodworking crafts, and she loved going to craft shows with him. There was nothing that lit up her day like a visit from family or friends and especially in recent years, mom always had a noticeable “bounce” in her step or voice, when she knew one of us kids were coming to visit.
Mom was preceded to heaven by our dad, Wayne Davis; her parents Harlan and Helen Harrington; sister, Mary Lou (Edmund) Erikson; son-in-law, David Eilers; grandson, Sam Davis; and granddaughter, Kaitlyn Spikes.
In addition to us kids, left to love and cherish memories of mom are 12 grandchildren, Ben (Sharon) Eilers, Sarah (Johnathon) Bunjer, Dan (Chelsea) Eilers, Ashley (Adam) Brown, Brad Gero, Mackenzie Cerwick, Nick (Laine) Burrichter, Kaitlyn (Brent) Fulford, Stephanie Davis, Jordan Davis, Hollyn (Cole) Zaletel, and Allie Spikes; 17, soon to be 19 great-grandchildren; and two former daughters-in-law, Brigitte Cerwick of Coppell, Texas, and Danette Paulding-Davis of Kansas City, Missouri.
We would like to extend our heartfelt thanks to the staff at Irving Point Assisted Living, Northbrook Manor Care Center and Unity Point Hospice for their loving care of our mom.
In lieu of flowers, memorials in Janet’s memory may be sent to the family, where they will be directed to Northbrook Manor Care Center (Activity Fund).
Mom was born on June 29, 1934, in Marshall County, Iowa to Harlan and Helen (Bowen) Harrington. She was the first of two daughters and grew up in the county near Dunbar. Mom said the only way her mother agreed to move there from Marshalltown, was if her dad (Harlan) agreed to put in indoor plumbing
Mom attended Dunbar High School, were she graduated in 1952. A year after graduation, she married her high school sweetheart, our father, Wayne Davis, on June 14, 1953. They were blessed with nearly 62 years of marriage. Soon after they were married, we began entering the picture; Steve (Amy) Davis of West Des Moines, Iowa, Cheryl (David) Eilers of Cedar Rapids, Sandi (Craig) Gero of Rock Hill, South Carolina, Ron Davis of Sycamore, Illinois and Sue (Calvin) Burrichter of Franklin, Tennessee.
Mom loved basketball and had an outstanding career in high school, where she was a 3rd Team All-State forward, back in the 6-on-6 days, and missed the state tournament at Vets Auditorium by one game, her senior year. After graduation, she had a short stint playing for a local “semi-pro” women’s team, Gas Alley, where she was the lone player that had to run both ends of the court. Later in life she even played for the Cedar Rapids Sizzlers, one of the inaugural Granny Basketball teams, “Where jumping and running were not allowed…but you could hurry.”
After a few brief years in Marshalltown, mom and dad settled in Cedar Falls for 25 years, where they raised us kids. They were always active in church. The family attended Trinity United Methodist Church every Sunday, except when out enjoying camping. After moving to Florida, mom and dad were active members of Good Shepherd United Methodist Church, where mom participated in the Evangelism Explosion program. When they moved back to Iowa, they became members of New Covenant Bible Church, where they enjoyed being part of the Pathfinders, adult Sunday School class.
Mom loved our family and their friends; whether square dancing, playing cards or camping, her presence was often the spark that lit up a room. She always had a way of making you feel so special and loved. She also had the artistic brush, that added life to many of dad’s woodworking crafts, and she loved going to craft shows with him. There was nothing that lit up her day like a visit from family or friends and especially in recent years, mom always had a noticeable “bounce” in her step or voice, when she knew one of us kids were coming to visit.
Mom was preceded to heaven by our dad, Wayne Davis; her parents Harlan and Helen Harrington; sister, Mary Lou (Edmund) Erikson; son-in-law, David Eilers; grandson, Sam Davis; and granddaughter, Kaitlyn Spikes.
In addition to us kids, left to love and cherish memories of mom are 12 grandchildren, Ben (Sharon) Eilers, Sarah (Johnathon) Bunjer, Dan (Chelsea) Eilers, Ashley (Adam) Brown, Brad Gero, Mackenzie Cerwick, Nick (Laine) Burrichter, Kaitlyn (Brent) Fulford, Stephanie Davis, Jordan Davis, Hollyn (Cole) Zaletel, and Allie Spikes; 17, soon to be 19 great-grandchildren; and two former daughters-in-law, Brigitte Cerwick of Coppell, Texas, and Danette Paulding-Davis of Kansas City, Missouri.
We would like to extend our heartfelt thanks to the staff at Irving Point Assisted Living, Northbrook Manor Care Center and Unity Point Hospice for their loving care of our mom.
In lieu of flowers, memorials in Janet’s memory may be sent to the family, where they will be directed to Northbrook Manor Care Center (Activity Fund).
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