Rita Jean Davis

Rita Jean Snoddy Davis of Fayetteville, Arkansas died April 16, 2012 at her home. Her husband, Sid, and daughter, Cathy, were with her. Rita was born February 4, 1931 in Coal Hill, Arkansas to Rita Arnold Snoddy and Jim Snoddy. She grew up in Mulberry, Arkansas and graduated from Van Buren, Arkansas High School. She graduated from the University of Arkansas with a BSBA and later obtained her master's degree in Public Administration. She taught at Fayetteville High School and served Fayetteville on the City Planning Commission. She served for many years as Federal Court Clerk for Judges Paul X Williams and Frank Waters. A life long Democrat, she endowed the Rita Snoddy Davis Access Arkansas Scholarship for the outstanding Political Science major in the University of Arkansas's Fulbright College. Rita will be remembered by all who knew her as a loving, fair and open person who never met a stranger. She was brave, loyal, generous, and outspoken. With her adventurous spirit, she and Sid traveled widely making friends wherever they were. Rita was a consummate friend to both old friends and new. She and Sid were known for their hospitality, opening their home for happy occasions in Fayetteville and at their second home at Lake Tahoe, Nevada. To remember Rita is to remember what a Razorback fan she was, especially a fan of basketball. Rita and her mother flew on the plane with Eddie Sutton's basketball team to the Alaska Shootout in Anchorage in 1980, the first year the team was in that tournament. To remember Rita is also to remember her with a book or the New York Times. She was a great reader and a great learner. Rita's affiliations include Delta Delta Delta, PEO, and the Modern Literature Club. Rita was preceded in death by her son, James Marion McRee. She is survived by her best love and companion in life, Sidney Parker Davis, Jr. to whom she was married for 37 years. She is also survived by her daughter, Cathy McRee Hancock and her husband Mark, of Bentonville, Arkansas; her step-son Drew Davis and his wife Susan, of Fayetteville; and step-daughter, Gail Davis O'Donnell of Little Rock. Mama Rita" enjoyed all her grandchildren: Travis Jennings Hancock and wife Alyssa of Bentonville, Faith Ann Hancock of Fayetteville, Emma O'Donnell of Little Rock, Jenny Davis Jackson and her husband Eric of Nashville, Tennessee, Parker and Kathryn Davis of Little Rock, and John Michael Davis of Fayetteville. Rita's three great-grandchildren are: Madeleine Hancock, Emmett Jackson, and Olivia Davis. Rita s sisters, close to her heart, also survive her. They are: Mary Snoddy Pratt and husband, Zeke of Alma, Arkansas and Anita Snoddy Paddock of Fort Smith, Arkansas. A full dozen nieces and nephews hold their Aunt Rita in dear esteem. Memories of Rita will color, please, and be an inspiration in the lives of many people for years to come. The family would like to extend special thanks to Dr. Alexander Burnett of UAMS, Little Rock, Dr. Malcolm Hayward and Dr. Eric Schaefer and the nurses and staff of the Highlands Oncology Clinic, and the Washington Regional Medical Center Hospice nurses who gave Rita the medical help and constant assurance that allowed her to survive ovarian cancer for a rewarding five and a half years. A Memorial Service for Rita will be held on Friday, April 20 at 2 p.m. at the First Presbyterian Church on Calvin Street in Fayetteville. Memorials may be made to the Rita Snoddy Davis Access Arkansas Scholarship. Checks should be made to the University of Arkansas Foundation and sent to Office of Development, Fulbright College, 525 Old Main, Fayetteville, Arkansas 72701. Memorials may also be made to the James McRee Garden fund at the Fayetteville Public Library. Checks should be made to the Fayetteville Public Library Foundation and sent to Fayetteville Public Library, 401 W. Mountain St., Fayetteville, Arkansas 72701. To sign the online guest book, visit www.mooresfuneralchapel.com.