Rita Gaylan (Alewine) Davis
Rita Gaylan (Alewine) Davis peacefully went to be with her Lord and Savior at her home in Deer Park, Texas on March 2, 2021. She was surrounded by her family after her brave and graceful fight with cancer. Rita was 78 years old.
She is survived by her husband of 60 years, Frank Leo Davis, and his sister June Shugart. She also leaves behind her eldest son Frank Rucker Davis, Nikki Madsen Davis, Julie Franklin Davis; her grandchildren Noah Leo Davis, Luke Lenoel Davis, Celia Rose Davis, and Chase Franklin Davis, and many nieces, nephews, and greatnieces and great-nephews. She is preceded in death by her youngest son, Mike Lenoel Davis; her parents Florence and Ollie Alewine; her brothers and sisters-in-law Lemuel Lenoel Alewine, Homer and Ann Alewine; Waylan Alewine; Joe and Nancy Alewine and brother-in-law Eugene Shugart.
Rita was born on November 9, 1942, in the Big Hill community near Groesbeck, Texas, and was greeted joyously by her parents and her four older brothers. Rita grew up on the farm learning the values of family, love, responsibility, and hard work. She and her mother did the housekeeping, meal preparation and laundry which was a major chore for a family of 7, and they did it together with pride and love. At the young age of 12, her father taught her how to drive a large flat-bed truck, used to haul hay bales, so she could help work the hay fields. This soon became one of her favorite chores. She learned the value of hard work early in her life. She was not scared of hammers, crowbars or paintbrushes and did not shy away from sweating and manual labor. She grew into a beautiful, hardworking, young woman with a sparkling personality and a radiant smile.
In high school, Rita was popular, admired, beloved student and athlete who was recognized and chosen for many awards and accolades. She had an innate competitive spirit that drove her to succeed at anything she did in her life. She excelled in basketball, volleyball and softball and was the FFA chapter sweetheart and played the coronet in the band. She was also selected as the Drum Major for the band in her junior year.
She met Frank Leo Davis, the love of her life in 1958, and really wanted to marry him so she graduated one year early from Groesbeck High School in 1960. She attended business school in Dallas as a condition set by her parents for permission to get married. She and Leo then married on December 17, 1960.
After moving to Pasadena, Texas, Rita and Leo were blessed with two sons, Frank Rucker Davis and Mike Lenoel Davis. Rita loved every aspect of being a Mom. She filled her days with homework, playgrounds, PTA and played roles as team Mom. She was heavily involved in their childhood and worked to ensure their success. She also worked to ensure that the boys knew they could be whatever they wanted to be. Rita also loved the holidays. One of her favorite holidays became Halloween when she would put on a mask and take the boys trick or treating. In their older years, she and Leo followed the boys’ sporting and academic achievements and spent many fun weekends going to Rucker’s college football games.
After staying home to raise their children until they entered school, Rita decided to start a career outside the home. She excelled in the medical field and grew to become the Practice Manager for a group of doctors at Urology Associates of Houston. She managed multiple offices and numerous staff and provided invaluable support and input as the practice grew and expanded. Rita truly enjoyed her career and the people she worked with loved her just as much. She finally decided to retire at the age of 72 even though they continued to ask her to stay.
Rita and Leo’s family grew when Mike met Julie in 2001 and Rucker met Nikki in 2002. Both couples were married in 2004 and then the family grew with the ultimate gift of four grandchildren. Rita absolutely adored her grandchildren and was a fun-loving, amazing Grammy. She adored every aspect of their lives including diapers, toddling, slip and slides, swings and climbing walls. She loved taking them bowling, shopping and to the movies. She also loved to play baseball and tennis with them. She continued by going to all their sports, spiritual and academic events. She filled her schedule with soccer, baseball, volleyball, football, and swimming. She was one of their biggest fans and best playmates.
Rita had a personal relationship with God and understood that there was a plan attached to her life. She was a spiritual, graceful, generous person who was an active and dedicated member of the Parkview Church of Christ. She loved the Lord and she loved the Bible. She enjoyed attending both church and bible study where she made and cherished many friends.
Rita’s radiant smile and vibrant passion for life, family and her Lord will be missed by all who knew her. Her bright light now shines down on us from Heaven. “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day—and not only to me but also to all who have longed for his appearing.” 2 Timothy 4:7-8
A visitation and memorial service is scheduled for Saturday, March 20, 2021, at Grand View Funeral Home at 8501 Spencer Hwy, Pasadena, Texas 77505. The visitation will be held from 1:00 p.m. - 3:30 p.m. with the memorial service following at 3:45 pm. Pastor Jerry Fite will officiate the ceremony. All are welcome to attend and celebrate Rita’s life. Condolences can be sent through the Grand View Funeral Home website via Rita’s obituary. A graveside service is scheduled for Saturday, March 27, 2021, at 10:30 am at the Faulkenberry Cemetery pavilion in Groesbeck, Texas.
The family would like to especially thank Judy and Raul Garcia and the caregivers from Vantage Hospice and At Your Side Home Care for their special attention, sensitivity, and dedication. In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to The Big Hill Cemetery Association at 286 LCR 626, Groesbeck, Texas 76642-3599 or The Faulkenberry Cemetery Association P.O. Box 464, Groesbeck, Texas 76642-0464.