Ohse E. Davis

October 29, 1914 - April 11, 2008

Ohse E. Davis, of Veterans Memorial Parkway, Orange City, will be remembered for her work in broadening educational opportunities and amenities at all levels. Davis died April 11. She was 93. There will be a memorial service at 2 p.m. Saturday, April 26, at Lankford Funeral Home, 220 E. New York Ave. in DeLand.

Born in Larvik, Norway, Davis came to DeLand 80 years ago. She was a graduate of DeLand High School, Stetson University and Florida State University.

In 1977, Davis was appointed to fill a vacancy on the Volusia County School Board, and she remained on the board until 1986. Volusia County Elections Supervisor Ann McFall recalls Davis was a worthy opponent when she, McFall, then a Democrat, defeated her in the primary for the nomination for School Board. McFall went on to win the election.

“She was a good person,” McFall remembered. “We were both Dems. She was a very nice lady. You didn’t want to cross her. When I got off the School Board and got on the County Council, she called me a couple of times, and we worked well together.”

Her partisan loyalty was one of the most memorable features of her life, Davis’ daughter, Marianne Hansen, said. “For being such a staunch Democrat, and collecting donkeys,” Hansen said. “She had over 100 donkeys. People would go places and bring her back donkeys.” On the more serious side, however, Hansen said her mother will be best remembered for her efforts to broaden educational opportunities and improve facilities. “She was an advocate all her life. She was active all her life,” said Hansen.

In addition to her service on the Volusia County Democratic Executive Committee and in the West Volusia Women’s Democratic Club, Davis served as president of Friends of the DeLand Area Public Library, the Volusia County Educators Association, and Volusia County School Librarians, and was a chairwoman of the Classroom Teachers of Volusia County, and a director of the League of Women Voters of Volusia County.
She was also a member of the Retired Teachers, the DeLand Woman’s Club, and the Community Advisory Board for both Stetson University and Daytona Beach Community College.

During her service on the School Board, Davis was elected president of the National Federation of Urban/Suburban School Districts, an organization of superintendents and members of school boards promoting education improvements. She was a member of the Juvenile Justice Advisory Board of District 12.

While she served on the School Board, Davis supported expanded technical education for high-school students. In addition, she supported school librarians’ right to choose freely the reading materials for their schools. Not least, she pressed for alternative schools for troubled youngsters, and two such schools were established in the county. Both schools are still in operation.

While new schools were being built during her tenure on the board, Davis sought parity in facilities, namely, upgrading older schools to include more modern equipment and amenities like air conditioning.
Davis worked with Dr. Evelyn Lynn — before Lynn became a state legislator — in the advent of new methods of teaching gifted children.

“Among those who worked with her, I think she will be remembered as one of Volusia’s pioneer women activists. She was active as a woman before feminism became a movement,” said Dr. T. Wayne Bailey, a political scientist at Stetson University, and a fellow Democratic Party worker. “She was not syrupy sweet; she would tell you what she thought.”  Bailey added Davis liked to sew, and she had enjoyed making neckties. “I think in my collection I still have three or four of her neckties. They are bright and celebratory,” he said.

In addition to her daughter, Davis is survived by a son, Dr. Leif Davis of Orlando, and two grandsons, Christopher of Ormond Beach, and Robert of Santa Barbara, Calif. Memorial donations may be made to Odyssey Health Care, 149 S. Ridgewood Ave., Daytona Beach, FL 32114.