Carroll Davis
COLUMBIA — Carroll M. Davis was an avid reader.
“She loved all kinds of books, anywhere from history to mystery,” Tom Davis, her son, said.
She always made sure her five children had access to books, and she volunteered for more than 20 years at the Columbia Public Library.
Mrs. Davis of Columbia died at her home on Wednesday, Jan. 26, 2011. She was 80.
She was born Oct. 13, 1930, in Springfield to William and Grace (Carroll) Mattingly.
Mrs. Davis loved playing games with her children and grandchildren in her home — where her family often gathered. When her children were growing up, they enjoyed playing board games like Park and Shop, but as her family grew to include grandchildren, they started to play bigger games, often word games.
“She had a very extensive vocabulary,” Tom Davis said.
Mrs. Davis received her associate degree in general liberal arts at Ward-Belmont College in Nashville. She then spent a year at MU where she was a member of the Delta Delta Delta sorority.
While attending MU, she met Phill Davis. The two left the university in May 1950 and married in Piggott, Ark., on July 1.
They moved several times because of Phill Davis’s job before settling in Hallsville, where his parents lived.
“She did exactly what she wanted with life,” Tom Davis said. “She wanted to be a mother, and she devoted her life to her family.”
Mrs. Davis raised her children on a farm just outside Hallsville. The family raised cattle, sheep and horses. They had many pets, including dogs, cats, quails and raccoons. Mrs. Davis’s favorite pet was an Australian Shepherd, Sheppy.
Mrs. Davis enjoyed being outdoors, gardening, picking berries and watching birds.
She was involved with her children and their school activities, and she substitute taught at their school in Hallsville, sometimes having them in her classes.
Mrs. Davis is survived by her husband; five children, Debby Mitchell and her husband, Bobby, of Maquon, Ill., Linda Schaper of Columbia, Nancy Dollard of Garland, Texas, Tom Davis and his wife, Brenda, of Belton, and Karen Snow and her husband, David, of Stuttgart, Germany; and 15 grandchildren.
A brother, Billy Mattingly, and a son, John Phillip Jr., died earlier.
A memorial gathering will be from 1 to 3 p.m. Sunday at Memorial Funeral Home, 1217 Business Loop 70 W., in Columbia.
Memorial contributions may be sent to the Columbia Public Library, 100 W. Broadway, Columbia, MO 65203, or to a charity of the donor’s choosing.
