In Memoriam

RITA BAXTER DAVIS

Rebekah Assembly President, 1952

1910 ~ 2003

Rita remained Challis, teaching school, while Oliver was overseas during WWII.  At the end of the war, they lived briefly in Washington and California, and then returned to Challis, where Rita returned to teaching.  Before she left Challis, she was teaching the children of her earlier students.  Both Rita and Oliver were active in the community and in Lodge, at both the local and State levels.

Rita was President of the Rebekah Assembly in 1951-1952.  Her watchwords were Steadfast Friendship and Eternal Love.  Her thought for this comes from an old book of Chinese philosophy "All the darkness of the world cannot put out the light of one small candle."  Her slogan was "Light the Candles."

She used the candles of Friendship, Love, Truth, and Service.  Her thought was that the friendly glow of these four candles would surely outshine all the darkness of our world, bringing to it warmth and understanding.

Although Rita was inactive in Lodge after she moved to Boise, it was certainly an important part of her life for many years.  Her mother, Grandmother, and Great Grandmother were all Rebekahs--in fact, Diane thought several were charter members of Silver Leaf No. 27 in Challis.  Diane also told me of this medal she has, she described it, and said it was inscribed to Julia Funkhouser, dated October 1914.  It is a Decoration of Chivalry and Julia Funkhouser was Rita's Great Grandmother.

Rita trained in classical piano and enjoyed her music in many ways.  As a young girl, she accompanied silent movies.  She also played for many dances, in addition to weddings, graduations, and funerals.

In 1962, Rita and Oliver moved to Boise.  There Rita set up the first remedial reading program in the Boise School District.  Diane was living in Boise when her parents moved there, so Rita was able to enjoy the arrival of her three grandchildren--Karen, Russ and Curt Clayton.

When Rita retired from teaching, she continued to teach her grandchildren, and as the years went by, her great grandchildren.  Her family was her greatest joy, and she was fortunate that her daughter and all three grandchildren lived in the Boise area, as did Rita's only brother and his wife and her niece and family.

In 1990, Rita moved into her daughter's home, where she resided until her death.  Her health was remarkably good.  Although she slowed down physically, she remained mentally active and alert--reading 2-3 novels every week until the last month of her life.  She had a special bond with her great grandchildren--Chris, Nick and Abby Canfield (Karen's children) and Kylie and Chloe Clayton (Curt's daughters).

In early March of this year it was discovered that Rita had inoperable cancer.  It didn't change her positive attitude toward life.  She chose to remain at home, with the assistance of her family and hospice.  On March 27, she celebrated her 93rd birthday, and was able to visit with all family members.  She died peacefully in her sleep, two days later.  Rita Davis was a remarkable lady and we were blessed to share her life.

Janette Weatherly, PP

Carnation No. 95