Image

Areta (Reta) Davis of Canon City passed away at her home April 10, 2022, at the age of 96. She was born September 19, 1925, in Kansas to the union of Arthur Bradbury and Violet Schroeder. Reta spent her early years in Kansas until the family moved to Eads in 1931. (Art Bradbury was the Kiowa County Clerk and Recorder for 37 years.)

Reta attended public schools in Eads, and graduated from Eads High School with the class of 1943. Reta married Don Davis, whose parents homesteaded in Prairie Queens northwest of Eads, December 2, 1945. Don had returned home from World War II. Reta and Don then moved to Alamosa where Don attended Adams State College on the GI Bill.

While Don enjoyed a long career as a teacher, coach, and school administrator, Reta kept the home fires burning. Don was employed by Kiowa County School District RE-1 from 1956-1958. His high school principal, John Hoke, recruited him to go to Largo, Florida, to be a principal. He lasted nine months as Reta got VERY homesick.

Reta enjoyed playing cards and watching TV game shows. She and Don lived in various Colorado communities before retiring to Canon City in 1985.

After Don passed in March of 2009, Reta continued to make her home in Canon City. She made many friends at the First Christian Church, and attended regularly until her health made regular attendance problematic.

Reta is survived by sons, Don (Lori) of Pueblo West and Mike (Marilyn) of Highlands Ranch; grandchildren, Cindy Bitts of Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, Randia Laga of Denver, Geoff Davis of Denver, and Jason (Charle) of Denver; step grandchildren, Logan Shannon of Lancaster, South Carolina and Keith Pierce of Pueblo West; and six great grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her parents; husband; brothers, Harry and Emery; and sister, Dottie.

At Reta’s request cremation has taken place and no services were held.

Her ashes were buried at the family plot in the Eads Cemetery.