On April 2, 2023, Edith (Jennings) Davis-Goodwin passed from this earth at the age of 105 years and two months with her daughters and the good people of Frye’s Care Home by her side.

Edith was born on February 7, 1918, on a dairy farm in the Kilchis River Valley in Tillamook, Oregon. She was the first born of six children to Cedric and Illa (Hart) Jennings whose family settled the Valley. Edith graduated from Tillamook High School in June of 1936, and in September of that year moved to Arcata, California to enroll at Humboldt State Normal College. Edith’s parents and siblings moved not long after to Fairhaven on Humboldt Bay. She liked to tell stories of rowing across the bay with her brothers to Eureka and the fog rolling in so thick they could not tell where they were going. Usually, her siblings took the ferry the Madaket to school in Eureka while she lived in Arcata during the week attending college. Sadly, her mother and her newborn sister died during childbirth. Edith attempted to move home to take care of her family, but her father insisted she remain in college. As a compromise, Edith took her youngest brother Dean to Arcata to live with her while attending college. Edith was able to graduate in 1942 with a BA in education and minors in art and music. She had so many happy memories of the lifelong friends she made at Humboldt.

On September 10, 1939, she married her college sweetheart Otho Davis. Edith and Otho resided in Arcata where he worked in lumber and eventually owned and operated D and M Lumber Company. Their first child, Stuart Kent was born in 1940, but died at birth. Before her passing, Edith was very happy to finally lay a stone on his grave in Arcata. In 1944, their second child Pamela was born, followed by Phyllis in 1947, David in 1950, and Margaret (Micki) in 1954. With the college and her family expanding, they moved from what later became “The Davis House” on the college campus to a Victorian on 14th Street that she personally restored room by room (“The Lady Ann.”)

In 1965 after the “64 Flood”, Edith sold their Victorian and moved three of her children to Truckee, California, where they joined Otho who had purchased a lumber mill in the area. At the time, Truckee was very rugged with long snowbound winters and there was a lot of adjusting to do, but she and her children loved the mountains. In 1969, Edith separated from Otho and moved with Micki to Grass Valley in the Sierra foothills where her brother Dean and his family lived. Edith loved the climate and always had a beautiful vegetable and flower garden. With the help of her daughter Pam, Edith renewed her teaching credentials and began teaching kindergarten near Grass Valley at Ready Springs School in Penn Valley. After daughter Micki graduated from high school, Edith returned home to Arcata and worked at Humboldt State University at the book store in the new student union building. Edith later worked nine years for the Senior Employment Agency as assistant to the director. In 1991, she became reacquainted with and married her college friend Edward “Kep” Goodwin until his passing in 1996.

Edith was very active in Eastern Star and Job’s Daughters in Arcata, Rainbow Girls in Truckee, White Shrine in Grass Valley, and the First Presbyterian Church in Arcata, Grass Valley, and Eureka. She enjoyed many years playing bridge with her friends, was a charter member of Baywood Golf and Country Club and an honorary member of the Ingomar Club. She had a beautiful voice and sang in high school, college, church, and friends’ weddings.

Edith was well known for her green thumb. She was an avid gardener all her life, and particularly loved growing roses. One of her joys was starting plants from seed, especially native plants. She belonged to numerous garden clubs including the Humboldt and American Rose societies, was a long-time member of the California Native Plant Society, and a charter member of the Humboldt Botanical Garden. After taking classes sponsored by the California Garden Club, she became a garden consultant and later earned her certificate as a Consulting Rosarian. Edith had over 100 well-loved roses; some having been transplanted by her family up to six times following her moves throughout the years. Edith and her beautiful roses received many awards at rose shows including the bronze medal from the American Rose Society for her contributions.

As a result of her childhood spent with her brothers roaming the hills of the Kilchis Valley, she was a lover of the outdoors. As an adult, Edith spent many happy hours hiking and backpacking in the Sierras, Trinity Alps, and Horse Mountain with family and friends searching for wildflowers. Being the adventurous type, she saved a dollar a day so she could travel. Her adventures led her to the British Isles, Ireland, the Caribbean, French Polynesia, Australia, Mexico, Alaska, and many other U.S states searching out the local plant life, both formal and natural.

Edith completed the last four years of her life at Frye’s Care Home where she was more than happy to advise the gardener on the proper care of their many roses. They treated mom like family, accepted her sage advice, and truly grieved her passing.

Edith was preceded in passing by her parents Cedric and Ila Jennings and sister Nancy Ann Jennings, brothers Richard, Robert, James, and Dean Jennings and sister Margaret Sharpless; her sons Stuart and David Davis, her husbands’ Otho Davis and Edward Goodwin. She is survived by her daughters Pam Cahill, Phyllis Davis, and Micki Davis (Mark Moore). She was the proud grandmother of 11 grandchildren: Pam’s Cathleen Cahill-Sandoval Strauss (Andrew), Christine Cahill-Disbrow (Bill), and Kevin Cahill (Christine); Phyllis’ Lance Bergman, Brian Bergman (Joy), Wesley Scoggins (Jennifer), and Jonathan Scoggins (Beth); David’s Jessica Cruz (Tony) and Malissa Cruz (Tom); Micki’s Jacob Mason-Davis (Nicole) and Lucas Davis-Thornton (Gretchen). These grandchildren graced Edith with 21 great grandchildren and one great-great grandchild.

Although we are grateful that she lived a very long, healthy life up to her last days, Mom/Grandma Edie will be greatly missed by her family and friends. Edith’s ashes will be laid to rest at Ocean View Cemetery followed by a celebration of life this Labor Day Weekend. Our family would like to thank the kind people of Frye’s Care Home, Hospice of Humboldt, and those who sent condolences to our family. Donations may be made in Edith’s name to Humboldt Botanical Garden, 7707 Tompkins Hill Rd, Eureka, CA 95503.

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