Service Details
Family and friends are invited to meet in the Draeger-Langendorf Funeral Home on Saturday, May 22, 2021 for a visitation from 10-11 a.m.
A service celebrating and remembering her life will follow at 11:00 a.m.
Memorial Suggestions
Memorials have been suggested to and in honor of Alexandra, the hearing-impaired child that she supported. Donate online to Assist International/Jesus the Hope of Romania JHOR. Donate by check Assist International, 800 S Stockton Ave. Ripon, CA 95366 check to Assist International with JHOR in the memo line.
RACINE – JEAN MAE DAVIS, 98, passed away at Ascension All Saints on Thursday, May 6, 2021.
She was born in Allentown, PA on December 26, 1922, the daughter of the late Albert R. and Anna A. (nee Bortz) Bastian.
Jean graduated from South Whitehall Township High School in Pennsylvania in 1940. She later graduated from Allentown School of Nursing in 1944. Allentown, PA. She received her certification in gerontological nursing in 1987.
After graduating nursing school Jean began her 55-year long career at Walter Reed Hospital in Washington D.C.. She worked for 11 years at her father-in-law’s nursing homes, Parklawn Nursing Home in Cetronia, PA and Director and manager of Tropic Nursing Home in Merritt Island, FL. She worked for 11 years as a private nurse to the wife of a NASA engineer for the early space program. She also worked as a charge nurse for 14 years and then Assessment Coordinator for 4 years at Medic Home in Melbourne, FL. Then she was Director of Education for D&M Associates in Indialantic, FL for 2 years where she ended her career at 77 years old. Although she was proud of all that she accomplished as a nurse, Her greatest achievements were her children and grandchildren.
She loved reading, gardening, composting-anything to enrich the earth, and making jewelry. She loved music, especially the pipe organ and any music performed by her children and grandchildren. She also enjoyed yearly women’s retreats with Women of the ECLA, and supported missions in Romania where she sponsored a deaf child for many years. No one was a stranger to Jean. “She loved well.”
Jean was a past Worthy Matron of the Eastern Star, Eastern PA Chapter and belonged to Brevard County Orchid Society, Women of the ECLA of Lutheran Church of the Resurrection in Cocoa Beach, FL and St Timothy’s Lutheran Church of Melbourne, FL.
She is survived by her daughter and son, Jaylene (Fred) Hardtke of Mt Pleasant, WI & George (Kathy) Davis of Melbourne, FL; her grandchildren, Jason Davis of Cocoa, FL, Anna (Steve) Tserkezis of Kenosha, WI; Laura Hardtke Hughes of Racine, WI; Geoffery (Sarah) Davis of Winooski, VT; Rebecca (Ed) Cajas of Fort Pierce, Fl; Melissa Hardtke of Kenosha, WI; Kaelan Davis of Palm Bay FL; Brian Miliron of Palm Bay, FL; Kristi Kesterson of Orlando, FL and Roger Cook of Leesburg, GA; as well as her 16 great grandchildren; and 4 great-great grandchildren.
Jean was also preceded in death by her son, Reynold “Rennie” W.P. Davis; her granddaughter, Shannon Cook; the father of her children, Reynold R. Davis; and her brothers, Robert, William and A. Paul Bastian.
Jean’s best friend for over 40 years, Maureen Everett, Melbourne, Fl. Said they spoke with each other nearly every day. “To say I miss my BFF is an understatement.”
Family and friends are invited to meet in the Draeger-Langendorf Funeral Home on Saturday, May 22, 2021 for a visitation from 10-11 a.m. A service celebrating and remembering her life will follow at 11:00 a.m. with Pastor Adolph (Skip) Neubarth. Music will be performed by Brandgas String Quartet and Violet Wilder. A portion of her cremains will be interred at St Paul UCC – Trexlertown, PA & Lutheran Church of the Resurrection Memorial Garden – Cocoa Beach, FL.
Memorials have been suggested to and in honor of Alexandra, the hearing-impaired child that she supported. Donate online to Assist International/Jesus the Hope of Romania JHOR. Donate by check Assist International, 800 S Stockton Ave. Ripon, CA 95366 check to Assist International with JHOR in the memo line.
“Our heartfelt thanks to all of the caregivers at Home Harbor Assisted Living, Racine for all of your kindness and friendship to our mom.”
Diane Davis says
A woman of great faith and loving spirit is how I would describe my mother-in-law, Jean. She loved without restrictions. I will miss her dearly.