Edythe Davis

SEDGEWICKVILLE, Mo. -- Edythe M. Davis, 78, of Sedgewickville died Monday, Feb. 15, 2010, at Saint Francis Medical Center in Cape Girardeau.

She was born Oct. 11, 1931, in Prairie du Sac, Wis., daughter of Elster H. and Margaret Accola Anderson. She and Ted Davis were married Sept. 8, 1951, in Portage, Wis.

Edythe joined the staff at Saint Francis Medical Center in 1975 as the hospital was moving from its old location at Pacific and Good Hope streets to a new campus on William Street. She retired from the medical center in 1997, where she had served as a former vice president credited with establishing the fundraising foundation.

Along with the foundation, she started the Quarter Century Club for employees with 25 years' experience and established the Employee Caring Fund, which raises money to help hospital employees in crisis.

Edythe was also a leader with United Way of Southeast Missouri, where she served on the board of directors 12 years and served as fund-raising chairwoman in 1998, and in establishing the Cape Girardeau Area Family Resource Center, serving residents on Cape Girardeau's south side.

Over the years, Edythe was honored for her efforts, receiving the Spirit of Giving Award from United Way in 2002, and Friends Honorary Award from Friends of Saint Francis in 2000.

Survivors include her husband, Ted of Sedgewickville; two sons, Terrill John (Lori) Davis of Baton Rouge, La., Shawn Davis of Newport News, Va.; three daughters, Christine (Jim) Gunnin and Jennifer (Joe) Bell of Sedgewickville, Nancy (Gene) Dudley of Vienna, Mo.; two brothers, Jerry Anderson of Ocean Springs, Miss., Don Anderson of Lake Geneva, Wis.; a sister, Marlene Cullin of San Antonio; 14 grandchildren; and 19 great-grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her parents and a grandson.

Visitation will be from 4 to 8 p.m. Saturday at Liley Funeral Home in Patton, Mo.

The funeral will be at 1 p.m. Sunday at the funeral home, with the Rev. Jim Cooper officiating. Burial will be in Garden of Memories Cemetery in Sedgewickville.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Saint Francis Foundation or Saint Francis Memorial Scholarship Fund in memory of Edythe.

Condolences may be left at www.lileyfuneralhomes.com.