Janice Davis

Janice Nelson Davis was born December 1, 1938, to Sylvia Irene Robinson Nelson and Price Williams Nelson in Springerville Arizona, and passed away at age 83 on August 28, 2022, in her home. Her family moved briefly to Fruitland, New Mexico when she was about 4 years old, then quickly settled in La Plata, New Mexico where she spent the remainder of her childhood. After high school she moved to Provo, Utah, working and attending college. She married Thomas Emmett Davis on June 5, 1959, at age 24, and they very much looked forward to spending eternity together.

Mom went to a one-room red brick schoolhouse in La Plata, New Mexico for her elementary education and then rode a bus to Farmington, New Mexico for jr. high and high school. She often had nightmares of missing the bus and not being able to find her locker, even in college. School was difficult for her, and though she found a love of good literature (influenced heavily by her mother’s love of good books), she was quite intimidated by math and science classes. She attended BYU for a few semesters but was happy “graduating” with her MRS. degree as she and her roommates often chanted, “I’ll get mine in ’59,” and as mentioned above, she was indeed married that year. She willingly and lovingly served in the church and was always more interested in lifting heavy hearts than what calling title she held, though she made every effort to serve well in all callings she was given the opportunity to hold. Serving and attending the temple was also of utmost importance to her. She served family, neighbors, church members, co-workers, and anyone else she encountered, if she felt like she had anything to offer them, even while experiencing her own heavy trials. During her first pregnancy she found out that a doctor who performed a medical procedure on her as a child predicted she could never have children because of it, so she felt each of us was a miraculous accomplishment. Though admittedly exhausted by motherhood, it had always been her dream, and she was grateful for the opportunity to be a wife and mother, as challenging as we all were in one form or another. She began working as a Chapter/Title I aide for Alpine School District in November of 1986 and worked until her health required her to stop in May of 2009. She loved helping kids learn to read and find their beginnings of academic success. She enjoyed researching family history, sewing/quilting as well as dancing, singing, playing the piano, and watching theater/musical performances. She also adores her grandchildren and great-grandchildren, which will not change in death, loving to hold them as babies as well as playing with them or spending time with them however else she could, whenever possible.

Jan is survived by her children Feliza Castor and husband LeeRoy, Julie Davis and husband Lamar, Carol Davis, Dawn Noble and husband Terry of Orem, Utah, Thomas Davis, Daniel Davis and wife Siona of Payson, Utah, Timothy Davis, Jenny Young and husband Jeff of Lake Saint Louis, Missouri, Andrew Davis and wife Amanda, daughter-in-heart Heather Davis, 32 grandchildren, 18 great-grandchildren, and many she loved and took under her wing who she considered family. Jan was preceded in death by her parents, husband, grandson David Noble, and siblings, Helen Powell, Lois Pope, Lorin (Bud) Nelson, Dale Nelson, Oliver Nelson, Edith Bailey, and Reuben Nelson.

Jan’s funeral service will be held on Saturday, September 3, 2022, at 11:00 am in the Geneva Heights 2nd Ward LDS Chapel located at 590 N. 900 W. in Orem, Utah, preceded by a viewing from 9:30 – 10:30 am, also located at the church. An additional viewing will be open for those unable to attend the funeral, on Friday, September 2, 2022, at Sundberg-Olpin Mortuary located at 495 S. State Street in Orem, Utah, from 6:00 – 8:00 pm. Graveside service will take place at Camp Williams Utah Veterans Cemetery located at 17111 S. Redwood Road, Bluffdale Utah, on Tuesday, September 6, 2022, at 9:30 am.

Thank you to everyone who showed her love, kindness, and/or service throughout her life. Our gratitude also goes out to all those who have loved and served us through this loss.

If you would like to donate to a memorial fund in lieu of flowers, you may send an email request to Jennifer.Young@logan.edu for more information.

Condolences for the family may be expressed on this page.