Betty Eileen (Phillips) Davis

Betty Eileen Phillips Davis, age 93, died in her sleep into the arms of our father Dave, the love of her life, on Wednesday, July 6.

She was born Nov. 7, 1922, in the Medical Lake area in Spokane County in the home of a Mrs. Johnson to Marjorie Rosanna and Eugene Clayton Phillips. At the time of her passing she resided at Auburn Meadows Senior Living in Auburn.

Her elementary education began in a country school and continued in Lind where she met her future husband David Davis when she was in eighth grade. Betty and Dave graduated from Lind High School in 1939, Betty at the age of 16.

Because she was so young, her parents hesitated to send her off to college, so she took a post graduate course at Lind High School.

In the fall of 1940 she began her college education at Cheney Normal (now Eastern Washington University) and received her BA in Education and her teaching certificate in 1944 when it was Eastern Washington College of Education.

Betty and David were married in January 1944 in Lind while he was on leave between WWII assignments. After college graduation Betty taught nursery school while Dave went back to Alaska.

When he was assigned to Fort Jackson in Columbia, South Carolina, Betty joined him there. When he was sent to the Philippines Betty came home and lived with her parents.

In 1950, Betty and Dave moved out to the farm near Lind. They built a new farm home in 1952 where they raised their six wonderful children whose many activities kept them busy.

In addition, Betty was active in her church (Lind Methodist), scouting, in all Masonic organizations, primarily Eastern Star and Rainbow Girls. They also attended many Arabian horse shows.

Betty and Dave resided on the dryland wheat farm until 2008 when they moved to the Maple Valley area to be closer to their daughters.

Relaxing at Priest Lake after harvest shaped many fond memories. The family had a recent reunion there. Betty was unable to attend but keeping in touch by phone with family, she asked when the family was eating at one of the lake’s resorts “Do they still have the red chairs and red umbrellas?”

Betty’s hobbies were sewing, crafting, playing cards and games, where she excelled at Scrabble.

In later years, Dave and Betty were snowbirds in Mesa, Arizona, and Hemet, California, and met lifelong friends along the way. They loved to dance, golf and travel.

Betty is survived by daughter Sue Ellen Johnson (Norma Dalla Santa) of Newcastle, Washington; Richard Davis (Shanon) of Lind; Penny Delaunay (Norman Hansen) of Brier, Washington; Dixie Davis of Lynnwood; and Priscilla Weaver (Sammi Shoemaker) of Bothell. Preceding Betty in death were husband Dave, youngest daughter Shannon Hentges and grandson Jackson Weaver.

Dave and Betty have 11 grandchildren and 19 great grandchildren and numerous nieces and nephews and their families.

A graveside service will be held for family and friends at 10 a.m. on Saturday, July 30, in Lind followed by a Celebration of Life in the Fellowship Hall at the Lind Community Church from 11 a.m. until 1 p.m. with a light luncheon. Please feel free to join the family.

In lieu of flowers remembrances can be made to a charity of your choice.