Patricia Davis

Patricia Ann Davis, age 86, of Mooresville, Indiana, passed away on Sunday, October 6, 2024. 

The facts: She was born Patricia Piercefield (Patty) on April 2, 1938, in Austin, Indiana, to her parents Clarence and Goldie Piercefield as the youngest of three children. Her brothers William (Billy) and Gene, as well as her parents, preceded her in death. 

Patty married the love of her life, Richard (Dick) Davis, on June 16, 1957. They had three children, two boys and one girl (following in her mother's footsteps). David, Randy and Heather all grew up in Indiana; the majority of those years spent in Mooresville. Richard and David also preceded her in death. 

David (Beth Kouns) made Patty's life more enriched with Stephanie and Tara (Logan Allen). Randy (Kay) was not to be outdone so they blessed her with Jonathan (Dawn), Kyle (Megan), Nick (Jenna), Michelle and Seth (Kaylee). Heather did not want to break any records but did offer her own creations of joy with Tyler and Reece. Patty embraced every child (and spouse) with love and adoration, never wanting to let them go. As her reward, she was blessed with six great grandchildren: Alex, Isaac, Addie, Lewis, Emry and Jack. When they visited, Patty would laugh and giggle like she was still a child herself. Her theory of never growing up worked. 

The life: Patty received her undergraduate degree in elementary education from Indiana Central College - yes it existed. You know it now as University of Indianapolis. She received one of her master's degrees at Butler University. For her, it was always about the children; shaping their lives, helping them learn, giving them memorable experiences. She taught at the elementary level for more than 25 years, mostly in kindergarten. She was the president of the Mooresville Classroom Teachers Association and a member of the Indiana State Teachers Association. She was a deaconess and leader in the White Cross at her church, Meridian Woods Baptist, later called Woodside Community Church. Her time was spent playing music, teaching Sunday School and directing those church plays that parents love, and children ramble through. If she wasn't playing the piano, she was singing in the choir, both in Indiana and Florida - her winter home. Between schools and churches, she was always busy and always working with children and music. 

The legend: Patty will live on in the memories she created with everyone she met. She was the friend that brought you a covered dish when you had too many things going on in your life to take care of yourself. She was the woman who fought tooth and nail for something she believed was right, even if she was in the minority. Stubborn does not even begin to describe her. God help you if you were on the wrong side of the fight. (He wouldn't help you, by the way. He was always on her side!) Her love of music played out every day. Not figuratively "every day." EVERY. DAY. Her kindergarten classes were blessed with her piano playing. From one student "I never knew that other kids grew up without their teacher playing piano for them. I thought this was the way it was for everyone. Now I know I was blessed." 

She had a love of the outdoors that she shared with her husband and children, by taking them on many camping trips and always working in the yard. She and Dick would spend their summer vacation week working at the church camp in Lansing, Iowa. Yes, working. She would plan vacations just for the grandkids. The parents weren't allowed. She was going to have a grand time building sandcastles or going to Disney with her grandkids without the interruption of rules from those pesky parents. But most importantly, her love of God was in everything she did, everything she believed and everything she shared. He was first and foremost in her life and she loved to share that. She didn't share her Christianity by judging. She shared it by loving. By laughing. By offering a bit of herself to you. She loved the color yellow, and it represented her well. Bright, cheery, and warm. Those of you who knew her, please take a moment to close your eyes, think of Patty, and let that warm glow get a little brighter within you. Then go share it with someone. It was what she would have wanted: for everyone to share their warm glow. If you can hum a little tune while you do that, it's even better. Always hum.