Bertha "Bess" (Evans) Davis

Bertha (Bess) Evans Grace Davis has moved many times in her life. On September 17th, Bess moved one last time as she made her trip to heaven. She was born in Cadmus, Ohio March 15, 1920 to the late Elma (Reese) and John Everette Evans, Jr. She graduated from Gallia Academy High School in 1938 and attended Rio Grande College and Ohio State University. She married George Grace in 1941 and they traveled the world while he was an Army officer, returning to Gallipolis in 1962 after George retired from the Army. They had two daughters, Carol and Nancy.

Grace United Methodist Church has always been Bess' church home. She was an advisor to youth fellowship at Grace, active in Wesley Weds, Circle, and Women's Society. She was membership chairman, member of the memorials committee, trustee, and member of the Council on Ministry. Bess was one of the first Girl Scout leaders in Gallia County and continued scouting as a troop leader, outdoor educator, and neighborhood chairman. She was the president of the Lebanon Valley Girl Scout Council in Pennsylvania and the recipient of the Thanks Badge which is the highest Girl Scout award for adults. She was a coordinator for the Red Cross and she was a founder of the French Art Colony and active in Cliffside Golf Course. She was a life member and member of the board of the Gallia County Historical and Genealogical Society. Bess was a founder of the Gallia Academy Alumni Association and was their Person of the Year for 1998.

When Bess was in high school she worked at the Evans Grocery Store which was her first "real job". After George's retirement she owned the Uniform Center and then in 1977 she went out to Bob Evans Farms as a volunteer. That lasted only 2 weeks, which was how long it took the farm manager to realize what a wealth of skills and knowledge she had, so he hired her full-time. She was a project coordinator, outdoor educator, tour guide, researcher, seamstress, and more. She completed the research and followed through on the project which put the Homestead at Bob Evans Farms on the National Registry of Historic Places. She was never given a project she didn't love. Bess was a member of Pembroke Club for many years and enjoyed the literary group and its wonderful members a great deal; some of them had been friends since childhood.

Bess was an active alumnus of the University of Rio Grande serving as a member of Atwood Club and the Alumni Association Board of Directors where she received the Rio Grande College Citation of Appreciation for 1989. Bess remembered her Welsh ancestry. She was a member of Cardiff Club, and later Cardigan Club. She loved singing and attended Gymanfas as often as possible. Her trips to Wales were filled with wonderful memories. She was a member of the French Colony Chapter, Daughters of the American Revolution where she used her talents as a researcher. With DAR she participated in parades, tours, and conventions. She knew what a privilege it is to be an American and she wanted our citizens to remember their heritage as Americans above all else.

In 1998 Bess married Don Davis, a former classmate. They traveled to Wales and took several bus trips. They enjoyed playing golf and following Gallia Academy football, basketball, and band. No matter where you were, no matter how stressful things seemed to be, Bess could lighten the mood and make things fun.

Bess is preceded in death by her parents, Elma and John E. Evans, Jr; her first husband, George Grace; her father-in-law, Benjamin Grace; her stepfather-in-law, Gorman Rush; her mother-in-law, Eva Huntsman Grace Rush; her son-in-law, Frank McCain; her sisters-in-law, Betty Grace Cockins, Betty Evans, Helen Grace Crum, and Virginia Rush Keckley; and her niece, Pat Keckley Netinin.

She is survived by her second husband Donald Davis; her daughters, Carol Langford and her husband, Carl, Gallipolis and Nancy Grossnickle and her husband, Dave, Bay Village, Ohio as well as her grandchildren: Lt. Col. Elizabeth (Betsy McCain) Fetherston (ret'd) and husband, John, Arlington, Virginia; Lt. Col. Amy McCain, Arlington, Virginia; Kelly Teufel, Cleveland, Ohio; Julia McCain, Columbus, Ohio; Kerry Teufel Shotwell and her husband, Andy, Cleveland, Ohio; Tim McCain and his fiancée Stephanie Holland, Arlington, Texas and one great-grandchild, Dominic Shotwell. She is survived by her siblings, sister, E. Louise Evans and brother J. Tim Evans and his wife, Deenie, all of Gallia County. She is also survived by her brother-in-law, Dwight Keckley and nieces and nephews: Dave Evans and his wife, Beth; Marty Evans Huestis and her husband Bob; Ben Van Nostrand and his wife Janie; Paula Crum Balmer and her husband Jeff; Mike Keckley; Kim Cockins and his wife, Elaine; and Michelle Cockins and her husband Steve; great nieces and nephews, great-great nieces and nephews and many extended family members and friends.

Special thanks to the caregivers who have been so kind to her over the last few years and the staff of Arbors Extended Care Facility and members of Holzer Hospice who so lovingly cared for Bess during her final illness.

Funeral services will be held 1:00 PM Thursday, September 23, 2010 at Grace United Methodist Church Sanctuary, 600 Second Ave, Gallipolis, Ohio with Rev. Bill Thomas officiating. Burial to follow at Mound Hill Cemetery. Friends may call at the McCoy-Moore Funeral Home, Wetherholt Chapel, 420 First Ave Gallipolis Wednesday 2:00-4:00 and 7:00-9:00 PM; DAR Services will be held at 7:00 PM Wednesday.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations made to:
Gallia County Historical and Genealogical Society
412 Second Avenue
Gallipolis, OH 45631
OR
The University of Rio Grande Alumni Association
P O Box 500
Rio Grande, OH 45674
OR
Grace United Methodist Church Continuous Improvement Fund
600 Second Ave.
Gallipolis, Ohio 45631

Condolences may be sent to www.mccoymoore.com