Obituary of Helen Marie Davis

Helen Marie Cate Davis

1923-2023

Helen celebrated her 100th birthday last summer. Helen was born in 1923 in Munday, Texas, to Emory Manfred Cate and Lillie Conger Cate. She was the 4th of 11 children. Her family members called her “Sally” due to her resemblance to her grandmother, Sarah Chastain Cate. She graduated from Boyd High School in McKinney, Texas in 1942.

She was happily married 51 years to John Donald Davis. They married in 1944 just before Don was sent to England to fly B-17 bombers in World War Two. Don was recalled to fly B-29s in the Korean War, and remained in the Air Force until 1969. During that time they lived in Texas, Germany and Maryland. Helen was a true homemaker, a wonderful seamstress, a terrific cook and the best mother and grandmother in the world.

Helen and Don had two children and five grandchildren. Helen was predeceased by her husband, Don, and favorite grandson, Mark Davis. She is survived by son Brian Davis of Oregon and his family and daughter Ember Wright of Arizona and her family, as well as 4 grandchildren and 9 great-grandchildren.

Helen was an avid family historian. She wrote letters to county clerks all over the country (prior to home computers) and found many distant cousins with whom she corresponded and learned much family history. She was delighted to discover her great uncle Dixie Cate and his sister, her great aunt Nellie Cate Gulden were buried in Tucson. The family had lost track of them.

Helen was loved by all who knew her. She was a beautiful person inside and out.

There will be a private ceremony in Oregon at a future dat