Rachel M (Davis) Morris

Rachel Mary Morris Davis, better known as "Rae" left this world Thursday, February 15, 2018. She was born February 12, 1916, in Newcomerstown, Ohio, the last born child of James Joseph Morris and Rachel Miskimen Morris.

Her life was fully lived from moving as a child with her family from one location to the next as her dad was forward thinking and so interested in the new thing called airplanes. They moved seven times in eleven years of her schooling and ended in Middle River Maryland with "Uncle" Glen L. Martin's factory. There she graduated from Kenwood High in 1933. She then met C.H. "Jim" Davis one day when visiting her parents. He was a resident of their boarding home. In 1935 her parents decided to move again, this time across the country to California to be a part of a new aircraft factory in San Diego. Rae was asked to drive them there. She said only if Jim would agree to help drive, since neither parent knew how. All agreed and they made the trip in a week's time and her dad was able to be there in time to report to his first day on time. He hired Jim immediately as the first new hire at the San Diego plant. On March 7, 1936, Jim and Rae went to Yuma Arizona and were married by the Justice of the Peace there.
After the Bombing of Pearl Harbor, a Fort Worth Texas move was next for them to work at the new aircraft plant built there for the war effort. Rae was an upholsterer for Consolidated Vultee, and later Convair working on B-24s and later B-36s as well as some other mock-ups test planes.
She retired to be a full time mother and homemaker., but was soon placing those long learned sewing skills that her grandmother had taught her as a child to a new use…sewing for the public. Rae enjoyed fashion and design especially for women who had a hard time finding ready made clothing to fit them. She was a well loved seamstress for many Fort Worth clients for more than sixty years. Mrs. Davis was also a den mother for the Boy Scouts and a Girl Scout Leader for many years, continuing to volunteer even after her daughter was in college.
Family vacations were a must and Rae was a planner, saver and packer deluxe! When Jim retired from General Dynamics, he and Rae would spend the warm months in Indiana, making sure that they got there in time to watch the Indy 500 time trials and races.
After Jim's death in May, 1985 she continued to travel with her Ridglea Presbyterian Church's Roadrunners group. She was a doting grandmother to her grandchildren, making each of them feel special and created on-going albums for each with their pictures and clippings over the years. Birthdays were special as well and she was known for her thoughtful hand written notes in cards for birthdays and Christmas up until her death.
She moved to Seymour Texas in March of 2007 following a bout of pneumonia to be closer to her daughter. She lived independently with support of "her girls"- the Seymour Hospital Home Health staff, cooked her own meals on her beloved Chambers range that she bought new in 1949 and used continuously making memorable roast beef, pies and pancakes among other things.
In Seymour she joined the First United Methodist Church and attended regularly. She enjoyed her neighbors, reading books from the library and seeing her grandchildren and then great grandchildren more often.
She is survived by her son, James G Davis and his wife Beth Anne of Houston, her daughter, Jeanne Rae Snyder her husband Gary Snyder of Seymour, four grandchildren: Jami Scott Davis and wife Kim of Overland Park, Kansas; Christel shahan and husband Kevin of Munday TX; Angela Miller and husband Landon of Wichita Falls, TX ; and Kelsie Schiessler and husband Peter of Tuscola Texas, and six great-grandchildren: Christian Davis of Colorado Springs AFB, Co., Taylor Rae Jane Davis of Vermillion, S.D., Kayton and Kyson Shahan, Cash Miller, and Caroline Rae Schiessler and numerous nieces and nephews all of whom she adored.
A celebration of life will be held at the First United Methodist Church, Seymour on Saturday, February 24th at 4 p.m. under the direction of Archer Funeral Home, with a family burial at a later date.
Rae's wish was for us to love one another. Those wishing to do so may donate to the Baylor County Free Library or the First United Methodist Church, Seymour, or a charity of your choice.