Alice Jenah Mohn Davies
Alice Jenah Mohn Davies passed away peacefully at her home in Crockett, Texas on June 13, 2017 at the age of 97 after a lengthy illness. Born in Brownwood, Texas on March 28, 1920, she grew up on the banks of the Guadalupe River in Old Ingram, Texas, a town founded by her grandfather, John Charles Wesley Ingram. As a young child, Alice learned about flowers and a respect for all of God’s creation from her beloved grandmother, Sarah Alice Nichols Ingram. After graduating from the Hunt School in 1938, she attended secretarial school in San Antonio. It was in San Antonio at a tea dance for the Army Air Corp Cadets that she met her future husband, Robert Edmond Davies. They were married at Randolph Field Chapel on July 25, 1942.
After the war, they settled in Dallas where her husband “Bob” became a prominent residential designer and Alice was a devoted wife, mother and community servant. She taught Sunday school for many years at Tyler Street and Southwood Methodist Churches and was a life member of the Women’s Society of Christian Service. She was active in the PTA and Camp Fire Girls Leadership, serving on its board. She also found time to serve her community of Oak Cliff by organizing recycling and anti-litter efforts, beautification projects, and fund drives for worthy causes for which she was honored by the Oak Cliff Chamber of Commerce while serving on its Executive 100 Council. She served as president of the Oak Cliff Women’s Club, Oak Cliff Garden Forum, Twin Woods Garden Club, and Dallas Council of Garden Clubs. She also served on the Board of Directors of the Creative Arts Center of Dallas, and was president and advisor of the national flower show judges. She wrote gardening columns for the Oak Cliff Tribune and Dallas Times Herald.
In 1977, she earned a design degree from El Centro College.
In 1981, she and Bob “retired” to Kerrville where she continued to serve her church and community. She founded the Tierra Linda Garden Club and was a member of the Kerrville Garden Club, the Hill Country Preservation Society, DAR, and volunteered at the Cowboy Museum of Art, Kerrville State Hospital, and Kerr County Historical Commission. An avid reader, she was active in the Kerrville Literary Club. Continuing her garden club work across Texas, she served as Director of District VII of the Texas Garden Clubs and the Hill Country Garden Council.
She served on the board of the Riverside Nature Center where she and Bob designed a butterfly garden. In 1992, she was invited by the Kerrville Daily Times to serve on the Women’s Focus Group, an advisory board for the coverage of women’s news.
She also wrote a gardening column for the local newspaper. In 1998, she was honored at the State Fair of Texas as the Garden Club Woman of the Year.
In 2003, she and Bob moved to Crockett to be near family. After promising to slow down, she still continued as she was able to help her local church and community by service on the worship committee at First United Methodist Church and redesigning the plantings for the church entrance.
She joined the Grapeland Garden Club and was a docent for the Monroe Crook Historical House, decorating it for a Christmas tour of homes. She was also active in the Houston County Historical Commission, the Major Jarell Beasley Chapter of DAR, and founder and first president of the Crockett Garden Club.
Alice had a wealth of knowledge of current events, horticulture, and design and was always willing to share what she knew.
She had high standards for herself and encouraged others to be their very best as well. An inspiration to her family and many friends across Texas, she lived her life with grace, dignity and love.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Robert Edmond Davies; infant son, Allan Wright Davies; parents, Grace Ingram and Edward Francis Mohn; brothers, Edward and John Mohn; and sisters, Jeneva Mohn Lackey and Ruth Marie Mohn.
She is survived by her daughter, Suzanne Cook and husband, Louis of Crockett; granddaughters, Alice Anne McDuffee and husband, Patrick of Frisco, Texas and Nellie Baker and husband, Joey of Crockett; great-grandchildren, Collin and Will McDuffee of Frisco and Brooks and Aubrey Baker of Crockett.
Graveside services were held Tuesday, June 20, 2017 at 11:30 a.m. in the Rose Garden at Restland Memorial Park in Dallas at 11:30 a.m. with Rev. Jack Albright of Jacksonville, Texas officiating.
A Celebration of Life service will be July 10, 2017 in the First United Methodist Church, Crockett, Texas. Time to be annouced at a later date.
Memorials may be made to First United Methodist Church, 701 E. Goliad Ave. Crockett, TX 75835 or to Riverside Nature Center, 150 Francisco Lemos St., Kerrville, TX 78028. Arrangements are under the direction of Callaway-Allee Funeral Home.
