Karen M Davis

Karen Melba Davis was born to Bonnie Mae and Marion “Oakey” Kline on Thursday November 9, 1944 in Berkeley, CA.  Karen was the youngest of three children, and had two brothers, Rodney and Kenny.  On October 31, 1954, Karen lost her father Oakey and Brother Kenny in a tragic automobile accident that she and Brother Rodney survived.  Karen moved between California and Nevada during her childhood and after her mother remarried William Cross in 1955.  Karen spent most of her grade school and high school years in Lincoln County.

Having a crush on Gary Davis since the age of 8, they later married on June 20, 1970,  in a ceremony in Caliente, NV.  Both Gary and Karen worked in Las Vegas, NV where they made their home for about 4 years.  On January 6, 1971, they welcomed daughter Melissa Starr and raised her in Las Vegas until she was ready to enter kindergarten and finally relocated to Caliente, NV.  On December 12, 1978, Gary and Karen welcomed a son, Lance Russell.  Gary and Karen would eventually divorce but the love they shared continued until Karen’s passing.

Karen eventually lost her mother to breast cancer on Thanksgiving Day November 26, 1981.  Karen was diagnosed in August 2007 with cancer of the right breast; she underwent treatment for 12 weeks and beat the disease!

Karen loved to work with people.  She worked in a small lighting store in Las Vegas, NV and upon returning to Caliente, NV she worked for “The Rec” also known to many as Carl’s Burgers alongside her lifetime friends Roz Mangum and Rosemary Davis.  She worked for some time at the credit union and then on to Caliente Elementary School and Lincoln County High School as a cook.  Karen finally retired from Grover C. Dils Medical Center in 2010 where she managed the dietary department.

The last 9 years she has lived with her daughter Melissa and her family here in Caliente, NV.  Karen loved to travel to Mesquite, NV to play the slot machines, she absolutely loved Christmas time, decorating and buying the perfect gift for all of her family and friends.  Karen’s friends remember her for her softball playing days with no shoes, running the bases, batting, and fielding in her bare feet.  Karen loved chocolate, Patsy Cline, Alan Jackson and a great cup of coffee!  Most of all, she loved her family.

Karen passed away at home surrounded by her family in the early morning of July 24, 2015.  A Celebration of Life was held in her honor on August 1, 2015 at Rose Memorial Park in Caliente, NV.  Karen was preceded in death by her Father, Marion “Oakey” Kline, Brother Kenneth B. Kline, and her mother Bonnie Mae Cross.  She leaves behind her oldest brother, Rodney Kline (Kathleen Lynette), nephews Kenny and Richard Kline, her son Lance Russell Davis, daughter Melissa Starr Rowe (George E. Rowe) and two grandchildren, Tailor Nicole Rowe and Christopher Rollins.