Ethel Reeves Davidson

Ethel Reeves Davidson, loving mother and grandmother, died Thursday, July 23 in her Houston home. She was under the loving care of her only daughter, and passed away just after having memory-filled conversations with her grandson and granddaughter. She was 101 years old.


The eldest in the Reeves family of Marysville and Gainesville, Mrs. Davidson was predeceased by her parents, Frances Marion and Alice Holcombe Reeves, two sisters and two brothers, as well as the husband who was the love of her life, Ivan J. Davidson.


A celebration of the long and endearing life of Ethel Davidson will be held at 3 p.m. Sunday, July 26, in the chapel of George J. Carroll Funeral Home, 602 S. Lindsay St. following a family visitation there at 2 p.m. Officiating will be J. L. Williams. Interment will follow in Fairview Cemetery.


Mrs. Davidson was born in Marysville on Nov. 19, 1913, the eldest of five siblings. Her younger siblings were Ernest Reeves, Ray Reeves, Letha “Trixie” Reeves Morris and Waunema “Nena” Reeves West. She married Ivan Davidson on Nov. 30, 1940. The couple made Muenster their home until retiring in 1976 to reside in Gainesville, where they were members of the First Baptist Church.

They had one daughter, Glenda Davidson Kennedy of Houston, who devoted full-time to caring for her sweet mother for the past four years within easy access to Houston’s vast medical treatment facilities. This sweet grandmother was always talkative and could “beat” her daughter and son-in-law on “Wheel of Fortune.” She loved telling stories about Marysville and Gainesville, detailing memories from as early as World War I.


She shared many of those memories with grandson Chris on the last day of her life before passing away that evening while resting comfortably at home with Glenda and Tom Kennedy. She also treasured many precious moments with granddaughter Claire, usually on peaceful Sunday afternoons at home.


Ethel Davidson was known for her devotion to her immediate family members as well as a significant number of nieces and nephews, most of whom reside in and around Gainesville. She was always soft-spoken and evoked the essence of the kindness and gentleness of a steady Christian lady.


Surviving are her daughter Glenda and husband Tom of Houston; grandson Chris Kennedy and wife Laura of Seattle, Washington; granddaughter Claire Kennedy of Houston; and a host of nieces, nephews and their sons, daughters and grandchildren.


Pallbearers will be family members Bob Bransford, Scott Bransford, Brent Banks, Matthew Bozarth, Justin Luster and Loy Bozarth.