Bernice (Coppinger) Davis
December 24, 1928 – August 31, 2017
Luerlean “Bernice”
Rowe made her entrance into the world on December 24, 1928 in Hinton,
Oklahoma. Her parents, Edwin “Lemuel”
and Sally, along with her older brother Edwin Jr., celebrated Christmas that
year with their newest family member, an adorable healthy baby girl. Over time,
the Rowe family grew to include Bernice’s younger sister Betty and her younger
brother Gary.
Relocating
their life from Oklahoma, the family moved to Garden City, Kansas where
Bernice’s father worked on a farm. Growing up during the challenges of the Dust
Bowl, the Rowe family eventually moved to Kimberly, Idaho.
During
her teenage years in Kimberly, Bernice loved to spend her free time at the
local skating rink. The “apple of the eyes” of many suitors, two young men
captured her heart – Glen Alden Coppinger and Herbert Carlington Davis.
On June
28, 1948 Bernice and Glen Coppinger were wed in a beautiful ceremony at the
Kimberly Methodist Church. The newlyweds lived in Twin Falls where their loving
son Larry and beautiful daughter Glenda were born. With a move to Boise and the
birth of Norman, the family was complete until 1967 when Glen died at the hands
of another.
The
succeeding years were difficult, but as Bernice’s youngest child prepared to
leave home for college, Herbert Davis, Bernice’s other roller rink sweetheart
from Kimberly, re-entered her life. Picking up the pieces after the tragic lost
of his wife Jennette, speaking as a true farmer Herb proposed to Bernice by
telling her “I don’t have all summer to court you so let’s get married
now.” Two weeks later on April 12, 1979,
Bernice became Mrs. Herbert Davis of Princeton, Oregon.
Whether
it was from her early childhood or the love of a large family, Bernice loved
farm life. Taking immediately to Harney County and Herb and Jennette’s five children
(Herb Jr., Louise, Joe, Tom and Barbie Ann), the Bernice and Herb Davis home
was a gathering spot for family, friends and neighbors alike. Bernice always
made it clear, “the door is always open, coffee is always on and there is
always time for pie.”
Family,
friends, baking and sewing were Bernice’s passion. Known for her cookies,
cakes, cinnamon rolls and pies, Bernice always had a sweet treat for family and
friends. Learning from her mother, Bernice’s sewing talents were unsurpassed.
Whether it was making clothes, quilts or tea towels as gifts, Bernice never met
a cute piece of fabric she didn’t own.
Although
tragedy was part of her life, Bernice was strong and never complained. Bernice
is preceded in death by her first husband Glen Coppinger, her second husband
Herb Davis, her parents Lemuel and Salley, her brother and sister Edwin and
Betty, sister Edna who she never met, step-son Herb Davis, Jr., grandson Damon
Davis, grandson Jesse Davis and great-granddaughter Deven Schulz.
Blessed
with a large family whom she loved dearly, Bernice is survived by her children
Larry (Arlee) Coppinger, Boise, ID, Glenda (Rick) Schulz, Twin Falls, ID,
Norman (Debbie) Coppinger, Davis, CA and her step-children Joe (Sharon) Davis,
Hines, OR, Ada Louise Colvin, Hines, OR, Tom (Julie) Davis, Princeton, OR,
Barbie Ann (Tim) Carr, Fergus Falls, MN and her brother Gary Rowe, Vancouver,
WA. Bernice is also survived by 17 grandchildren, 39 great-grandchildren and one
great great-grandchild as well as the many friends that she always called her
family.
Donations
in lieu of flowers may be made to Alzheimer’s Association Idaho Chapter:
On line
at: www.alz.org/idaho
By mail
at:
Alzheimer’s Association
Attn: Donor Services
6126 W. State St., Suite 305
Boise, ID 83703
By phone: (208) 206-0041