March 28, 2024

Wanda Davidson

Murray

Wanda Ann Davidson, 90, daughter of Glenn Palmer and Bernice (Hainline) Palmer was born Dec. 18, 1929, at the family farm in Union County and passed from this life Wednesday, March 25, 2020, at Clarke County Hospital in Osceola.

Wanda grew up living on farms in the Thayer and Truro areas. One of her most traumatic experiences was watching her farmhouse burn from the distance while in school in 1936. She played six-person basketball and started as an eighth grader on the Thayer State tournament team. She was all state as a senior playing with her sister Waunita leading their Truro team to the state tournament. Wanda graduated from Truro High School in 1948 and immediately started college that summer. She started teaching in Brush College School north of Murray just a couple of miles from the family farm that fall. When the roads were muddy she had to walk to school.

Wanda taught at rural schools in Peru and south of Murray the next couple of years before beginning at Murray Community Schools in 1952. While there she taught sixth grade, retiring after 43 years of helping to shape hundreds of young minds. Through the years, Wanda attended summer and night school graduating with her bachelor’s degree from Drake University.

Wanda was united in marriage to Kenneth Eugene Davidson May 24,1950, at the Murray Church of Christ in Murray. To this union they were blessed with a son, Mark, in September of 1956. They made their home in Murray and were very strong supporters of the Murray community. They loved sports and watched many sporting events including those Mark participated in as well as many school events. Wanda was an avid Iowa Hawkeye and Cubs fan, catching many of their games on TV. They were long time members of the Murray Church of Christ, the Murray Community Booster Club, and the Murray Community School Foundation.

Wanda was also a 36-year breast cancer survivor. Ken and Wanda enjoyed spending time with their son Mark, his wife Lori, and their grandchildren Jessalyn and Zachary. They enjoyed many sporting events and dance recitals during their visits.

In her later years, Wanda enjoyed visits from her friend and long time fellow teacher Karen Burgus, usually bringing doughnuts, and her friend June Flaherty bringing her mail, and neighbors Bill and Julia Kerns bringing fresh produce and canned goods from their garden. Wanda also loved her annual trek to Blair to spend the holidays with her family.

Those relatives who preceded Wanda in death were her parents Glenn and Bernice Palmer; in-laws Elmer and Maude Davidson; husband Kenneth Davidson; brothers Elwood and Gale Palmer and brother Basil Dick; brother and sisters in-law: Delbert and Rose Davidson, Ralph and Irma Davidson, and Anne Davidson.

Wanda leaves to cherish her memory her son Mark and his wife Lori Davidson; granddaughter Jessalyn of Blair, Nebraska; grandson Zachary Davidson of Denver, Colorado; brother Glen (Marilynn) Palmer of Omaha, Nebraska; sister Waunita (Dale) Delong of Omaha, Nebraska; sister-in-law Elizabeth Palmer of Truro; sister-in-law Dixie Palmer of Weatherford, Oklahoma; sister-in-law Florence Dick of Gilbert, Arizona; brother-in-law Richard Davidson of York, Maine; as well as many other relatives and many friends and former students.

A celebration of Wanda’s Life will be held at a later date.

Memorial contributions may be directed to the Murray Community School foundation.

Online condolences may be directed to the family at www.kalefuneralhome.com.