Charlotte Elfreda Davis

Charlotte E. Davis, 99, a pioneer resident of Pacific County, died December 10, 2010 in Tacoma, Washington where she had resided the past 6 years. Born January 5, 1911 in Ilwaco, Washington, she was the daughter of Roy and Elfreda (Colbert) Herrold. A native of Iowa, her father had come west to Pacific county in the early 1890s and her mother was of French-Canadian and native Chinook Indian decent, a relative of Chief Comcumley. Charlotte was one of six children born to Roy and Elfreda. Roy was employed in the local oyster industry and during summer months the family took the railroad from Ilwaco to Nahcotta where they spent the summer months at an oyster station in Willapa Bay. Charlotte graduated from Ilwaco High School and then she and her identical twin sister Catherine moved to Portland where they graduated from the St. Vincent Hospital school of nursing. Charlotte later obtained her bachelor of science in nursing degree from the University of Washington. Charlotte served as a First Lieutenant in the US Army Nurse Corps during World War II. While stationed at Fort Baker, California she met and married John Arthur and they became parents to a daughter Anna. John died in 1945. Her sister Catherine later introduced Charlotte to widower Edgar Davis and the couple was married at the Colbert House in Ilwaco. Charlotte and Edgar resided in Seattle and on Vashon Island where Charlotte was employed as a public health nurse in Seattle and Burien. Following retirement Charlotte returned to the Peninsula, settling in Ocean Park in the historic Loomis House, she and Edgar having previously remodeled the historic Strand and Walker houses in Ilwaco. Charlotte was keenly interested in recording the history of the Peninsula. Accordingly, she and Edgar compiled a four volume narrative entitled "They Remembered", a historical vignette of the Peninsula and its residents. Following Edgar's death in 1992 Charlotte returned to Ilwaco residing in the Herrold House and continued writing. She was an active member of the Columbia-Pacific Heritage Museum in Ilwaco and a member of Ocean Park Lutheran Church. Charlotte was very proud of her Chinook Tribal heritage and was passionate in having the Chinook Nation gain Federal recognition. In her "spare time" Charlotte enjoyed quilting and gardening. In addition she was an avid painter, using water colors and oils to capture the beauty of the Peninsula and the surrounding countryside. Charlotte is survived by her daughter Anna Ackley of Seattle; sons Don (Shelley) Davis of Vashon Island and Edgar (Linda) Davis of Tacoma; eight grandchildren and four great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her son Charles Davis and her siblings Harland Herrold, Betsy Trick, Bernard Herrold, David Herrold and twin sister Catherine Troeh. Funeral service will be held Saturday, December 18, 2010, 10:00 AM at Penttila's Chapel by the Sea in Long Beach. Concluding graveside service follows at Ilwaco Cemetery with a reception at the Columbia-Pacific Heritage Museum in Ilwaco. Memorials may be made to the Columbia-Pacific Heritage Museum, PO Box 153, Ilwaco, WA 98624. Charlotte's guestbook is available at www.penttilaschapel.com.