Shirley Davidsen was born December 21, 1932, in Delevan, California. She passed away in Eureka on November 8, 2026, at the age of 93, in the excellent and loving care of her daughter Linda. Thank you, Sis, for taking such good care of Mom these last few years.

She was born to Francis and Dorothy Boudro; she was the oldest of their 7 children. Her childhood years were spent in the Sacramento Valley, where her dad worked as a ranch hand. When her dad took a job in Arcata working in the timber industry in the late 1940s, the family moved to the Arcata area.

She met Howard Davidsen in 1951, and their first date was Valentine’s Day 1953 and married in May of that year, and they were married for nearly 62 years, raised 4 children: Elaine, Linda, Dale and Michael.

She was a great wife, mother and homemaker as well as doing in-home daycare until her youngest child was in middle school. At that time she started working outside the home, working for Green Lot nursery and later at Bennay’s Basics as a seamstress making baby clothes.

She was a very talented person and had many hobbies. She was a fantastic cook and baker; she made 100s of custom-decorated cakes for events, birthdays and weddings from the ‘70s through the late ‘90s. She sewed most of her own clothing and many of her boys’ shirts with embroidered scenes on the backs; she made many quilts and made and sold hundreds of “Cabbage Patch” doll clothes at craft fairs when they were the rage.

She was an avid gardener, growing a large vegetable garden for years, and her flower beds were stunningly beautiful. She was also quite musically inclined, able to play the piano, accordion and guitar. She also did photography and had her own darkroom where she would do custom photo prints.

From the late ‘60s through the mid-‘80s, she and Dad were avid motorcyclists owning a number of different bikes and did many day and weekend trips all around Northern California. My own love of motorcycles and motorcycle travel comes from these weekend adventures. She also loved all her fur babies and small farm animals.

She was a faithful servant of God. She and Dad had weekly Bible studies in their home for 25-plus years, until she was no longer able. Although we will miss her, she spent her life preparing for this day, which gives us much comfort.

She is survived by her daughter Linda (Lyle) Kittleson and son Dale (Shauna) Davidsen; brothers Dale (Yolanda) Boudro and Vernon (Dixie) Boudro; brothers-in-law Fred McCranie and Ron Tweedy; sister-in-law Kaye (William) Woods; grandchildren Howard Lewis, Lori (Jamie) Kelley, Darla Lewis, Kenneth Kittleson, Scott (Taylor) Davidsen, Thomas (Madelyn) Davidsen, Kent (Elizabeth) Davidsen and Erika Davidsen; great-grandchildren Kaitlyn, Jenna, Dylan, Weston and Carter; and great-great-grandchildren Lindsey and Josie. She is also survived by numerous nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents; husband Howard; daughter Elaine; son Michael; brother and sister-in-law Edwin and Donna Boudro; sisters Bernice Tweedy, Carolyn McCraine and Marolyn (Lee) Kreger; and sisters-in-law Agnes (Clyde) Hendricksen and Carla (Bob) Coleman.

Pallbearers will be Kenneth Kittleson, Thomas Davidsen, Kent Davidsen, Dylan Brown, Jamie Kelley and John Soliz.

We want to especially thank Tracy Farris and Lori Kelley for their help watching Mom and helping Linda care for Mom, and all the caring help from the hospice caregivers during her last days.

Visitation will be at Sanders Funeral Home in Eureka from 12–1:30 p.m. on November 14, 2026, with graveside service at 2 p.m. at the Ocean View Cemetery with potluck reception following. Reception location unknown at this time; location to be announced at graveside service.

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The obituary above was submitted on behalf of Shirley Davidsen’s loved ones. The Lost Coast Outpost runs obituaries of Humboldt County residents at no charge. See guidelines here. Email news@lostcoastoutpost.com.