Marian C. Davis
Marian Candace (Bailey) Davis, age 102, of Curtis, Nebraska, passed away peacefully on Monday, November 24, 2025, surrounded by the love of family.
Marian was born on a farm southwest of Palmyra, Nebraska, to Merle and Gladys (Ring) Bailey, the second of five children. Named after her grandmother, Marian (Gove) Ring, and her great-grandmother, Candace (Worth) Gove, she grew up with a strong sense of family history and roots.
Her early years were shaped by the Great Depression and the Dust Bowl, yet she often recalled those times fondly, saying, “We didn’t know we were poor.” Life on the farm taught her resilience, resourcefulness, and the importance of hard work — lessons that would guide her throughout her life.
She attended her first two years of high school in Cheney, Nebraska, before moving west to Curtis to complete her education at the Nebraska School of Agriculture, graduating in 1941. It was on graduation night that she and Kenneth “Roy” Davis drove across the Kansas border to get married. They weren’t yet of legal age in Nebraska— nor in Kansas, for that matter, but that’s a whole other story. At 17 and 19 years old, on April 18, 1941, Roy and Marian tied the knot. The couple shared a lifelong partnership, raising six children on their farm near Curtis, where Marian devoted herself to home, family, and community.
Marian’s work extended beyond the home. She was employed at Dale and Donna’s Café in Maywood in the mid-1960s and at TRW in McCook into the early 1970s. She balanced her professional life with caring for her family, managing the farm, and running a household filled with love, laughter, and activity. Her creative talents were evident in her quilting, crocheting, rug-making, gardening, and crafting, and she took great joy in sharing her skills with family and friends.
Marian and Roy shared a zest for life that extended into their later years, well after their move from the farm to a house on the outskirts of Curtis. They invested in rental properties together and became founding members of the Country Concert Association.
They also developed a love for travel, serving as ambassadors for Friendship Force—an international home exchange program. Their travels included visits to Germany, Korea, the United Kingdom, and the Middle East. Israel always left quite an impression on Marian as she recalled the places where Jesus had walked.
A devoted member of Maywood Christian Church, Marian also loved genealogy and family history. She meticulously recorded stories of her relatives, leaving a legacy of memories and wisdom for future generations. She cherished family gatherings, sharing stories of the past with the same enthusiasm and clarity whether recounting events from decades earlier or reflecting on more recent times. Marian was preceded in death by her husband, Roy Davis; daughter Diane (Davis) Towery; parents Merle and Gladys Bailey; brothers Bill, Samuel, and Donald Bailey, and sister Frances (Bailey) Walter; grandchildren Laura (Houser) Hearold and Shirley (Houser) Turner; and son-in-law Don Sherlock. She is survived by her children: Cathrine Dumont of Olathe, KS; Letty (Al) Lipparelli of Elko, NV; Kenneth (Cathy) Davis of Mc-Cook; Scott (Linda) Davis of Maywood; Doug (Sue) Davis of Ceresco, NE; and son-in-law Michael Towery of Mc-Cook; 11 grandchildren, 6 step-grandchildren, 24 great-grandchildren, and 18 great-great-grandchildren; numerous stepgreat and step-greatgreat grandchildren; and many nieces, nephews, and cousins.
Marian lived a life full of quiet strength, faith, and generosity. She taught her family that love is shown in the work of your hands, that faith does not need to be loud to be real, and that family is the truest legacy.
Her memory, her stories, and the traditions she nurtured will live on in the hearts of those who loved her.
Visitation was held at Blase-Wetzel-Strauser Memorial Chapel, 315 Center, Curtis, NE, Sunday, November 30, 2025, 1:00-3:00 PM and Monday, December 1, 2025, 2:00-6:00 PM with family present from 3:00-5:00 PM.
Funeral Services were held, Tuesday, December 2, 2025, Maywood Christian Church, with Pastor Dale Heimer officiating. Burial will follow in the Maywood Cemetery.
Memorials may be directed to the Maywood Christian Church or the Maywood Community Hall.
