Billie Marie Davis
April 16, 1922 — June 4, 2020
Billie Marie (Phillips) Davis was born April 16, 1922 in New Sharon, IA to Harold and Berneice (Whitehead) Phillips. She passed away at the Knoxville Area Community Hospital on June 4, 2020 following a brief illness. A family service was held and her cremains were interred in the Friends Cemetery in New Sharon.
She graduated from New Sharon High School in 1939 and was the oldest member to attend the New Sharon / North Mahaska Alumni Association banquet for the past several years. She was a member of the Pleasantville Christian Church, Pleasantville American Legion Auxiliary and a board member of the Pleasantville Senior Center. She married Lawrence Sheehy in 1940 and had four children in five years: Susan, Sally, Steve and Sara Lou. After divorce she married Keith Davis in 1952. IN addition to raising a family, Billie was a waitress, overall factory machinist, formidable seamstress and crafter as well as excellent cook and cookie baker. From baby clothes, dresses and formals for daughter and granddaughters to Raggedy Andy and Anne dolls of all sizes, Barbie and American Girl Doll outfits, and Halloween and Centennial costumes, her hands were always busy with any new craft idea. She crocheted scores of afghans for every member of the family and others, plus a multitude of hats, scarves and craft items.
She and Keith owned and operated the Franklin Hotel in New Sharon in addition to managing the Capri Theater after they spent a few years in Davenport operating on of the first Henry’s Hamburgers.
The couple first moved to Pleasantville in 1977 and started several years of volunteer work. As an original member of the Pleasantville Senior Center, Billie was recognized for 30 years of service volunteering there.
Billie suffered a broken hip in August 2017 and subsequently moved into the home of daughter, Sally and husband Leland in Pleasantville. On Christmas Day, 20117 she broke another hip. Following surgery and rehabilitation, she returned to the Vander Linden home until September 2019, when she became a resident of Homestead Assisted Living in Knoxville.
Billie was predeceased by her husbands, a son, Steve Sheehy, daughter, Susan Sheehy and sister Norma Lee Smith. In addition to her daughter Sally (Leland) VanderLinden, she is survived by daughter, Sara Landstrum (Bill) of Bella Vista, AR. Grandchildren include Janis Kliethermes of Kansas City, MO, Jolene (Jeff) Conway of New Orleans, LA , Rob (Julie) Landstrum of Norwalk, IA, Cheri (Kirk) Hosteng of Galesburg, IL, Stephanie Frick of Altoona and Stevie Sheehy of West Des Moines, IA. Also surviving are 11 great grandchildren, two great great granddaughters, nephew, Mike Smith of Oskaloosa, great nephew Luke Willamon of Omaha, NE, great niece, Amanda Maciuska of Apache Junction, AZ, as well as several Davis nieces and nephews and beloved Whitehead cousins.
Memorials may be made to be Pleasantville Senior Center
She graduated from New Sharon High School in 1939 and was the oldest member to attend the New Sharon / North Mahaska Alumni Association banquet for the past several years. She was a member of the Pleasantville Christian Church, Pleasantville American Legion Auxiliary and a board member of the Pleasantville Senior Center. She married Lawrence Sheehy in 1940 and had four children in five years: Susan, Sally, Steve and Sara Lou. After divorce she married Keith Davis in 1952. IN addition to raising a family, Billie was a waitress, overall factory machinist, formidable seamstress and crafter as well as excellent cook and cookie baker. From baby clothes, dresses and formals for daughter and granddaughters to Raggedy Andy and Anne dolls of all sizes, Barbie and American Girl Doll outfits, and Halloween and Centennial costumes, her hands were always busy with any new craft idea. She crocheted scores of afghans for every member of the family and others, plus a multitude of hats, scarves and craft items.
She and Keith owned and operated the Franklin Hotel in New Sharon in addition to managing the Capri Theater after they spent a few years in Davenport operating on of the first Henry’s Hamburgers.
The couple first moved to Pleasantville in 1977 and started several years of volunteer work. As an original member of the Pleasantville Senior Center, Billie was recognized for 30 years of service volunteering there.
Billie suffered a broken hip in August 2017 and subsequently moved into the home of daughter, Sally and husband Leland in Pleasantville. On Christmas Day, 20117 she broke another hip. Following surgery and rehabilitation, she returned to the Vander Linden home until September 2019, when she became a resident of Homestead Assisted Living in Knoxville.
Billie was predeceased by her husbands, a son, Steve Sheehy, daughter, Susan Sheehy and sister Norma Lee Smith. In addition to her daughter Sally (Leland) VanderLinden, she is survived by daughter, Sara Landstrum (Bill) of Bella Vista, AR. Grandchildren include Janis Kliethermes of Kansas City, MO, Jolene (Jeff) Conway of New Orleans, LA , Rob (Julie) Landstrum of Norwalk, IA, Cheri (Kirk) Hosteng of Galesburg, IL, Stephanie Frick of Altoona and Stevie Sheehy of West Des Moines, IA. Also surviving are 11 great grandchildren, two great great granddaughters, nephew, Mike Smith of Oskaloosa, great nephew Luke Willamon of Omaha, NE, great niece, Amanda Maciuska of Apache Junction, AZ, as well as several Davis nieces and nephews and beloved Whitehead cousins.
Memorials may be made to be Pleasantville Senior Center
To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Billie Marie Davis, please visit our flower store.