Ruth Davis

Addie Ruth Davis, 89 of Americus, Georgia passed away at home in her sleep, Tuesday, January 19, 2010. Ruth was born to Alma Lee Knape and Henry Orville Ratliff in Sterling City, Texas, January 31, 1920. Ruth, the youngest of four children, joined Henry Orville, Jr., Truman, and Alma June. When she was two years old, her father was killed in a ranch accident. Alma, needing to support her children moved her young family to Bowie, Arizona where she ran a cafe. Ruth grew up and attended school in Bowie. To help her family, she learned to cook and sew when she was very young. In 1935, because of family difficulties, Ruth moved to Safford, AZ where she lived with family friends in a railroad car in their backyard. Ruth lied about her age and promptly obtained a job at JCPenney in the Layaway department. Ruth met the love of her life, Julius Charles Davis (JC), and married January 2, 1938. They had two children, Charles Wayne born January 8, 1939 and Barbara Colleen born August 26, 1940. During these years, Ruth worked at JCPenney until moving to Duncan, AZ in 1955. Ruth ran the household and perfected her cooking and sewing skills, while JC managed the Duncan Equipment John Deere store. She spent a lot of time sewing most of Charles and Colleens clothing plus cooking and baking for the entire neighborhood. Ruth and JC moved back to Safford where he worked in the mobile home industry. Charles had gone on to medical school in Memphis, TN and Colleen had married Corky Johnson and began having grandchildren. Ruth excelled at her grandmotherly duties. These were duties she took very seriously; she spoiled all her grandchildren unconditionally. Wherever Ruth worked, she very rarely took home a paycheck, as she spent that money on the grandkids. She bought school clothes, shoes, and toys. Those grandkids were the best-dressed kids on the block! In the meantime, Charles married Judy Clothier, became an orthopedic surgeon, and also began having grandchildren. Her life was complete, she was so proud. Over the years, Ruth worked at JCPenney, Newberry; Sprouse, Tots n Teens and then she went to work for Browns Turquoise. She took the not taking a paycheck home to the ultimate limits at the jewelry store. She loved turquoise jewelry, always had something on layaway, and was not only Bernices best employee but also best customer! She had placed a beautiful Concho belt on layaway that took over two years to payoff. When she brought that belt home, she put it under the bed and got to feeling just a little bit guilty about spending so much money. She went out and bought JC that fishing boat hed been wanting. After the boat was safely parked in the driveway, she said, Now JC, I bought myself a little something, and pulled the belt out from under the bed. Ruth was a life-long member of the United Methodist Church. She attended regularly and made sure to take the grandchildren with her. After church, she would make a huge Sunday dinner that the family looked forward to all week. JC was diagnosed with Alzheimers disease in 1998. Charles had his orthopedic practice in Americus, Georgia and it was decided that Ruth and JC would move to Georgia and that way Charles could help as the disease progressed. After 63 years of marriage, JC passed away, March 26, 2001. After JCs death, Charles made sure to keep Ruth busy. They traveled all over the country, attended church and Ruth really got a chance to enjoy Charles family. The entire family has been blessed that in Ruth they had a shining example of wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, and great-great grandmother. She had a gentle soul, was always willing to help, and made everyone she met feel welcome. She remembered everyones birthday and anniversary and faithfully placed this information in her annual Arizona Highway calendar. Ruth was preceded in death by her parents, siblings, husband, daughter and is survived by son, Dr. Charles Davis (Mary) of Americus, GA, son-in-law, Albert (Corky) Johnson of Safford, AZ, daughter-in-law, Judy Clothier of Prescott, AZ, eight grandchildren, 20 great-grandchildren and 9.5 great-great grandchildren. A memorial service will be held at First United Methodist Church, 1020 S. 10th Avenue on Saturday, February 6 at 10 a.m. with a gathering afterward at the Safford Womens Club.