Bessie Carolyn Davis

Bessie Carolyn Davis, age 96, died at St Anthony Hospital, Lakewood, CO on Friday, February 23, 2018. Bessie was born March 11, 1921 in her grandparent’s house in Mt. Zion, IL. Bessie lived with her mother in her grandparent’s home the early years of her life. Bessie attended grade school at Mt. Zion Elementary School. When her mother married, Bessie moved with her parents out to a country farm, and then later to a house in Bethany, IL. She graduated from Bethany Township High School in 1939. Her first job was as a beauty operator, but that was her mother’s idea and not really what Bessie wanted to do. She soon decided that she wanted to join the Woman’s Army Auxiliary Corp. She served in the U.S. Woman’s Army Air Corp/Woman’s Army Corp during World War II as a platoon sergeant, mail clerk and in communication centers. Tours of duty included Algeria, Italy and France. At the end of the war, she returned to the U.S. to the St. Louis, MO area and got a civil servant job with the Army Finance Center. In 1951, the Air Force Center split from the Army Center and both moved to different locations. Bessie decided to move with the Air Force Finance Center to Denver, CO. She worked with the Air Force Finance Center for another 25 years, retiring in 1976. After moving to Denver, Bessie kept busy with various activities, including day trips to the mountains and dance lessons. She met Willard Davis at a dance at the Rainbow ballroom. They married in 1955 in Loveland, CO. They were married for 61 years and had two daughters. Bessie enjoyed corresponding with many family members and friends, gardening, sewing, crocheting, needlework, cooking, painting/drawing, genealogy, and traveling - especially to visit extended family. Bessie was devoted to her family and was dearly loved. She will be greatly missed. Surviving family include daughters Carolyn Ufer (Jay), and Sandra Christine Davis (Andreas Beuschel), ; sister Lillian Smith (Joseph B Smith); grandchildren Alyssa Ufer, Danielle Ufer and Jonah Beuschel, all of Colorado. Bessie was preceded in death by husband Willard Davis, and parents Gaynell and John McReynolds. Services will be held at 1pm, Monday, March 05, 2018 at Horan and McConaty Funeral Home, 3101 S. Wadsworth, Lakewood, CO. Burial will follow at 2:30pm at Fort Logan National Cemetery, 4400 W. Kenyon Ave. Denver, CO. In lieu of flowers, donations in Bessie’s honor may be made to the Salvation Army, or an organization of your choice.