Kathleen Davis Obituary

Kathleen Kay Davis, 73, of Baldwin City, KS passed away October 21, 2018 at her home in Baldwin City. She was born June 20, 1945 in Scottsbluff, NE to Clarence Paul Corr and Helen Margaret (Twombly) Corr. Kathy grew up in the Melbeta, NE area. She loved her years growing up on the family farm with her siblings, singing with her sister, and wide open spaces to play and roam. She graduated from Melbeta High School in the class of 1963. She then attended Canoga Park Community College in California.

On February 10, 1968, Kathy was united in marriage to William Lawrence Davis, Jr. at the United Methodist Church in Melbeta, NE. This past February they celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary. After their marriage, Bill and Kathy set off on their adventure together, living in Denver, CO, and later in Gering, NE, Oshkosh, NE, and Melbeta, NE. They moved to Baldwin City, KS in 1988.

Kathy was a lifelong homemaker. Caring for her family was always her first and highest priority, and Kathy also became a fixture of the Baldwin City community in just about every way. She founded the United Methodist Church Children's Choir, the Baldwin Band Booster Club, the After Prom program, and the C.L.E.A.R. Coalition. She established grant funding for the Baldwin City Recreation Commission, and created many community-wide programs such as youth sports, dance, and tumbling. She started the Baldwin Community Theatre and produced and directed many musicals and theatrical productions from 1991 to 2001. She volunteered numerous hours of her time to the Midland Railway, establishing the Haunted Train ride and bringing Thomas the Train to Midland. She was very active in the Baldwin City Republicans Club and was the church pianist for New Life Assembly of God Church in Baldwin City. She was on the Maple Leaf Festival Committee for many years. This year was extra special because she was honored in the parade for her contributions to the community; she was showered with love from all of her friends and family.

Throughout her life, Kathy was honored with many community awards and distinctions, including Baldwin Community Woman of the Year Award (1994), University for Mankind Grassroots Community Education Award (1997), and the Baldwin City Chamber of Commerce Community Service Award (2003). If there was a way to improve or promote Baldwin City, Kathy was there to help drive the task and keep it moving in the right direction.

While she was a very strong community leader for Baldwin City, she was also the cornerstone of her entire family. She organized numerous family reunions and kept all the cousins, nieces, and nephews connected and in touch with one another throughout the years. Bill and Kathy shared the responsibility of spiritual leadership and the training up of their children. Kathy was a mentor and support to her family and they could always rely on her to listen and lend a helping hand. She also offered wise spiritual counsel to her loved ones to guide and keep them on the right path. She deeply loved God and lavished this same love on her family and community.

Kathy is survived by her husband, Bill of Baldwin City; two daughters, Heather (Justin) of Baldwin City, Melissa of Redding, CA; three sons, Will of Baldwin City, Clinton (Jamie) of Baldwin City, Luke (Cara) of Greensboro, NC; three brothers, Paul (Jeanne) of Simi Valley, CA, Jack (Joann) of Scottsbluff, NE, Harvey (Carol) of Thousand Oaks, CA; sister-in-law Jane of Hickman, NE; ten grandchildren, Brett D., Chelsy (Landon), Austin, Zach, Brett C., Ace, Jack, Margreta, Maygan, Mallory; and three great-grandchildren, Waylen, Chloe, and Cierra.

Kathy is preceded in death by her parents, Paul and Helen; her sister, Carol; her two brothers, Howard and Elbert; nieces, Cheryl and Vicki; and nephews, Mike, Cory and Danny.

A Celebration of Life will be held at 6:00 p.m. on Tuesday, October 23, 2018 at New Life Assembly of God Church in Baldwin City. Family will greet friends prior to the service at 5:00 p.m. Memorial contributions may be made to Heart of America Teen Challenge sent in c/o Lamb-Roberts Funeral Home, P.O. Box 64, Baldwin City, KS, 66006. Condolences may be sent to the family through lamb-roberts.com.