Wanda Jane (Hess) Davis was born on December 22, 1938, to Francis Elwood Hess and Carmen Ena (Hobble) Hess in Colby, Kansas. She attended Colby Public Schools graduating in May of 1956. Wanda was not interested in pursuing a college education as her parents offered but opted instead to continue working at the Chamber of Commerce as a secretary for a year and a half, before marrying her sweetheart of four years, Don Albert Davis. Wanda continued secretarial positions for the next 37 years for various lawyers and as administrative assistants at Colby Community College AED and finally PTA/Nursing programs.
Wanda valued becoming a
mother and took 3 years off in this time to raise her two daughters,
Lori Ann, and Joni Lynn. Her hobbies included financing antique
auctions, sewing most of her young daughters’ clothes as well as the
outfits of their dolls, quilting, plants, water aerobics, and supper
with friends. In retirement, reading became her #1 hobby. Wanda was a
passionate fan of her KU Jayhawks and Kansas City Chiefs.
Wanda is survived by her daughters, Lori Davis Russell (Martin), Gretna,
Nebraska, and Joni Ketchum, Colby, Kansas; grandson Andrew Jace Ketchum
(Kaileigh) of Ft. Collins, Colorado, and granddaughters, Jenna Rae
(Ketchum) Wark (Kaid), Rexford, Kansas, and Grace Lori Russell, Gretna,
Nebraska; sister Marilyn (Hess) Wiley, Sun City West, Arizona, and
sister-in-law Betty (Williams) Hess, Winfield, Kansas, as well as
numerous extended family members and friends. Her biggest joy this last
year was the addition of great-grandson Wyatt Nelson Wark born in May
2022.
She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband and
brothers, Hazen Dean Hess and Ronald Dale Hess, as well as sister-in-law
Donna (Garrett) Hess and brother-in-law Don Wiley. Her pursuit of doing
things right, of integrity, and of having a high sense of
responsibility were never more apparent than this last year when she
achieved her goal of moving back to her beloved home after a triumphant
battle with oral cancer.
Visitation will take place from 5-7:00 p.m. Wednesday, February 22,
2023, at Baalmann Mortuary, Colby. The Funeral Service will be at 10:30
a.m. Thursday, February 23, 2023, at the mortuary, with burial in Beulah
Cemetery, Colby.
Memorials in honor of Wanda may be made to NWKareS Hospice Services or Thomas County Historical Society and sent in care of Baalmann Mortuary, PO Box 391, Colby, KS 67701. For information or condolences visit www.baalmannmortuary.com