Melissa Davis

On Sunday, January 1, 2023, Melissa Davis, 101, of Santa Fe, entered the gates of Heaven and met her Savior! Melissa was born in Batson, Texas on June 30, 1921.  She was the oldest of five children born to Celestine and Walther Strahan.

Melissa was always a go-getter from the start!  She loved learning and would often “get her lessons” by a kerosene lantern at night.  She met the love of her life, Riley Davis, while working in a cafe in Daisetta, Texas.  After two weeks of courtship, they were married on February 28, 1944, in Liberty, Texas, and had fifty-one years together.  Melissa and Riley had six children between them, Charles, Damon, Mike, Patricia, Tommy and Becky, and raised them in Stowell, Texas. After Riley, who worked for the Sun Pipeline Company, was moved from the Texas Valley to the SunField Camp just outside Stowell, they bought an acre of land on Van Ostrand Lane and built a house in 1959.  They lived there until Melissa moved to Santa Fe, Texas to live with her son in 2016.

Melissa always had a love for children and learning.  In March 1964, she started a Kindergarten at her home in Stowell.  Riley built a “School Room” onto the house and Jack and Jill Kindergarten was established!  All the tables and chairs in the School Room were built by Riley and made to last!

The first class had only six students and they attended for only three hours in the morning.  Word quickly spread about the Kindergarten and Melissa soon had to open a second class that ran for three hours in the afternoon.  She often had twenty-seven to thirty students in each class, morning and afternoon!  She ran a Kindergarten until it was officially offered at East Chambers and then she switched to teaching PreK students.  She taught generations of students for twenty-eight years in that little room!

Every year, Melissa would hold a graduation ceremony at either the High School Auditorium or the Methodist Church. All the gowns were hand-made by Melissa, pink for girls and blue for boys. Riley made the caps and covered them with matching fabric. Melissa ordered special Jack and Jill diplomas and handed them out to the students one by one as they walked across the stage. She was always so proud of the progress that her students made each year!

In May 1986, Melissa Davis was named Educator of the Year by the Winnie Chamber of Commerce!  It was an honor that she cherished all of her life.  She was so humbled by the recognition.  She said that the ceremony was something that she would never forget.  The plaque hung on the wall in her home and she was always so proud to talk about the honor with all of her family and friends.

Melissa retired from teaching to care for Riley after he became ill.  She was devoted to his care and took a part-time job at Little Pair convenience store in Stowell so she could be close to home.  She loved working at that little store because so many people would stop in just to say hello.  After Riley passed away, she worked full time at Little Pair until it became Jack’s Grocery.  She was asked to stay on at Jack’s and she worked there until she was ninety years old!  So many former students would stop in to say hello, drink a cup of coffee with her and share stories with her.  Her days working at the convenience store were filled with joy.  She’d get up at 3:00 AM every morning so she could open the store by 4:30 AM.  She always said that the farmers and others needed her to be there so they could get ice for their ice chests and coffee to wake up!

Melissa was a faithful member of the First United Methodist Church in Winnie for many years. She taught Sunday School and volunteered her time when needed. She loved working with children and this fulfilled her desire to give back to the community.

Melissa leaves behind a legacy of love that will live on in her huge family!  She is survived by her children, Mike Davis; Patricia Irwin (Wray); Tom Davis (Charlotte); Rebecca “Becky” Cook; and Nancy Nichols (Troy). She has eighteen grandchildren, Nell Lange; Larry Davis (deceased); Charles Davis; Glenda Davis (deceased); Donna McQuillan (Shaun); Kim Davis; Barton Davis (Sharon), Rilee Davis; Michael Davis (Dani); Danny Irwin (Elsie); Dorothy Moralez (Nune); Glori Davis; Susan Scott; J.J. Domino; James Krell (Lindsey); Wesley Cook (Sharla); Travis Cook and Lauren Cook (Miguel).  She has thirty-six great-grandchildren, twenty-two great-great grandchildren and five great-great-great grandchildren.

She is preceded in death by her parents; loving husband, Riley Davis; sons, Charles Davis and Damon Davis; her brother, Sam Strahan and sisters, Christine Pryor, Iva Smith and Thelma Simmons and all her dear sisters and brothers-in-law.

Pallbearers are her grandsons, Danny Irwin, Barton Davis, James Krell, Wesley Cook, Travis Cook, and Troy Nichols. Honorary pallbearer is grandson, Rilee Davis.

A gathering of Mrs. Davis’ family and friends will begin at 1:00 p.m., with her funeral service at 2:00 p.m., Saturday, January 7, 2023, at First United Methodist Church, 1708 TX-124, Winnie. Her interment to follow at Anahuac Cemetery, Anahuac.

To honor Mom’s contributions to education and the Winnie Community, memorial donations may be made to the East Chambers ISD Education Foundation, 270 School Road, Winnie, Texas 77665. 409-296-8186

For online or cash donations, the information is below:

Cash donations:  216 Champions Loop Winnie, Texas 77665

Online donations: shorturl.at/bdpuY

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