Donna Marie Davis

Donna Marie Davis was born on September 21, 1927 in Hardin, Montana and passed away on January 10, 2023. She is preceded in death by her parents, Ethel and Ira Cochran, her loving husband, Benjamin Riddle Davis and daughter Judy Ann Davis. She is survived by her loving son, Alan Davis (Karen Cooper) and step children Jack Crocifisso (Katie Sadowski) and children JoJo and Evie, and Marlo Crocifisso, grandchildren Jennifer Allred (Isaac) and children Alexis and Ryan, Jessica Brandt (Zack), and children, Kailey, Carson and Jackson, and her sister Alta Reeves. She left Hardin after graduation and attend beauty college in Long Beach. She then moved to Missoula to live with some friends and got a beautician job. Her friends were in a mixed bowling league, which is where she met Ben. After 5 dates he proposed to her and they were married 6 months later. They lived and shared an apartment with Ben’s good friend from home, Kenny Thomas and his wife Grace. She and Ben saved enough money to buy a lot on Farviews and built the 7th house that was built on the hill, which she lived in for 65 years. With the help of her father, Ira, and with sweat equity, they completed the house. She went into labor while finishing shingling the roof and Alan was welcome into the world. 16 months later they welcomed Judy. Donna left the beauty world for 16 years to raise a family, then attended 2-years of night classes at the U of M and earned enough credits to get the first 4-C certificate ever earned in Montana. This allowed her to teach in a beauty school for 26 years until she retired. Donna and Ben shared a place on Placid Lake with John and Enie Heinrich for 45 years. They spent every summer there with the Heinrich family, Alan, Judy and all of the neighborhood kids that either they or the Heinrichs invited. They were also avid travelers, initially going on earned trips from Ben’s business, then becoming active members of the Friendship Force, where they stayed with, and hosted, families from all over the world. They visited over 20 countries and 6 of the 7 continents. Donna was a pillar in the neighborhood. When anybody new moved in she baked fresh cinnamon rolls and took them to the new neighbors to welcome them. She also kept a candy drawer-1 per kid per day, and stocked the freezer with popsicles in the summer for Judy and Alan’s friends. She fed the neighbor kids whenever they were around, be it breakfast, lunch or dinner. Later in life she became known as the infamous Cookie Lady. She would bake 20 dozen cookies every week and delivered them to her friends that couldn’t bake. Donna and Ben were active card players, either playing cribbage or gin rummy every night and bridge with their neighbors and friends two or three nights a week until Ben passed. She spent the remainder of her later years and spare hours doting on her kids, grandkids and great grandchildren. She never missed an important event, the opportunity to provide a hug, or offer a listening ear. She loved unconditionally expecting nothing in return. Following Ben’s death and after surviving a stroke, she moved to the Village Senior Residences, where she lived a fulfilled life until her passing. The family would like to thank Dr. Joscelyn Spoon and her nurse Robbin, at the Heart Institute, and Dr Trudy Yost and nurse Carl Motes-Connor for their kind and compassionate caring for Donna. Donna’s funeral will be at the Grace Methodist Church, 1756 S. 10th St W. at 4:00 on Saturday, January 21st. An informal reception will begin at 3:00. The service will also be broadcast live on the church’s Facebook page or can be viewed without Facebook at: facebook. com/graceumcmissoula. In lieu of flowers, Donna specifically requested donations to the Grace Methodist Church or charity of your choice.