Obituary of Dorothy I. Davis

Dorothy I. Davis of Iowa City (formally of Lone Tree) died Thursday, August 29, 2024, at the age of 95 after a brief hospitalization at The University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics Downtown Campus.

Dorothy Irene (Brokaw) Davis was born March 28, 1929, in Monmouth, Illinois to Chester O.  and Mabel I. (Hoerntlein) Brokaw. She attended elementary and high school in Stronghurst, Illinois where she graduated in 1947. From there she attended nursing school at the Burlington Protestant Hospital graduating in 1950. She worked some private duty at The University Hospital in Iowa City.

Dorothy married William E. Davis on August 20, 1950, at the First Methodist Church in Burlington, Iowa. To this union was born three daughters: Judy, Janet, Kathryn. Dorothy enjoyed working with young people, was a leader of 4-H, she was camp nurse at some of the summer camps while her husband served as waterfront life guard. She and two others chaperoned a bus full of teenage youth to Washington, D.C. and New York City.  At the county fair, young people would find her if they needed a bandage or aspirin. During her daughters’ school years, she chaperoned many school activities and always enjoyed attending their activities and later those of her grandchildren.

She was a member of the United Presbyterian Church of Lone Tree, formerly the Yoked Fellowship of the Methodist and Reformed Churches of Lone Tree. She worked as church secretary during the time when the churches became Presbyterian and also worked for Nordstrom Publishing at the Lone Tree Reporter. Dorothy was a member of the Carnation Rebekah Lodge #367 holding many offices until the Lodge closed in 2016 and she joined the Georgia Quigley State Lodge. She participated and was co-leader in the Alzheimer and Dementia Support Group (sponsored by Hospice and Pathways). She was a former member of Knee Knockers, Arthritis Water Group, Fremont Homemakers, Friendship Group of the Church, and Lone Tree Legion Auxiliary.

Dorothy enjoyed crocheting, knitting, embroidery, crafts, quilting, sewing, Search A Word, working 1,000 piece jigsaw puzzles, and reading. The family had fun camping and enjoyed many trips together in the early years. Then later she and her husband introduced camping and fishing to their grandchildren. Dorothy and Bill liked to travel and enjoyed many wonderful winters in Arizona, making many good friends.  Dorothy enjoyed working the election polls for many years in Lone Tree and then in Iowa City when the couple moved there in 2000.

Her family includes her daughters, Judy (Ben) Clark, Janet Davis, Kathryn Davis; grandchildren, Jeffrey Green, Laura Steinbeck (Mike), Amy Green; six great grandchildren; nieces, Debra Brokaw, Denice Dixon (Kenny); nephew, David Brokaw (Lisa); great nieces and nephews.

Dorothy was preceded in death by her husband, mother, father, stepfather, Leslie P. Ricketts; brother Franklin Brokaw (Elaine); niece, Dana Brokaw; step-sister, Joyce Ricketts; two stepbrothers, Charles Ricketts, Dean Ricketts.

Funeral services will be held at 1:30 pm Friday, September 6, 2024, at Gay & Ciha Funeral and Cremation Service, where there will be a time of visitation beginning at 12 noon.  Burial will take place at the Lone Tree Cemetery.