Henrietta Davis

Henrietta Davis, born on June 12, 1916, died on Nov. 12, 2008.

“Retta” graduated from the University of Colorado in 1939, Phi Beta Kappa. After college, she went to Washington, D.C., as an intern, where she met a fellow intern, Aubrey Davis. Once after a Quaker meeting they walked home together and talked seriously. They were married in May 1941 and continued their conversation for 67 years.

After WWII, the couple moved to Seattle, where they raised four children: Judy, Becky, Peter and Trisha. Starting in 1960, Mrs. Davis taught elementary school at Mercer Crest and West Mercer for 23 years. She was loved by her students, and they celebrated her with a party for her 85th birthday. After retirement, she volunteered at the Science Center and the Aquarium to teach about seashore invertebrates at the tide pool touch tanks. She also volunteered at the Salvation Army, where she helped price valuable and rare books for sale.

Mrs. Davis lived her life by the Golden Rule. She could see the good in almost anyone, had a remarkable ability to accept people and was generous with her love. Her passion and pride for her children and grandchildren were limitless. Like her grandfather, she encouraged her grandchildren to study Shakespeare, and for years she and her husband treated the family to a week at the Ashland Shakespeare Festival.

Mrs. Davis is survived by her husband, Aubrey Davis, of Mercer Island; children, Judy Willott (Don), Becky Pentz (Victor), Peter Davis (Susan) and Trisha Muller (Eric); and eight grandchildren, Brenna Willott, Sarah Bottini, Jessica Ridgway, Amy Pentz, Aubrey Davis, Anthony Davis, Stephen Muller, Patrick Muller and extended family and friends.

A memorial service will be held at East Shore Unitarian Church at 11 a.m., Wednesday, Nov. 26. Remembrances are suggested to the Aubrey and Henrietta Davis Fund at the Group Health Foundation, 320 Westlake Ave. N., Seattle WA, 98109.