On May 28, 2026, Jeanette Gilfillan Davis left this earth to join her deceased husband, Robert Davis, and her beloved dog Terrie.

Jeannette was born on April 9, 1934 in Jacksonville, Florida to Daniel Emile and Delilah Gilfillan. On July 21, 1951, she married Robert Davis. He passed away on September 27, 2023. They have two children, Kathleen Dickens and Richard Davis.

Robert Davis spent 22 years in the Navy. His military duties frequently required extended times away from home. This left Jeanette to be both father and mother to their children. At one point when Robert deployed to sea and the children were still young, Jeanette left them with a young couple she knew and joined other Navy wives on a trip to Europe. They rented a car and followed their husbands’ ship from port to port. This allowed Jeanette to spend time with Robert and see places she had only read about at that time. It was most likely this experience that started Jeanette’s life- long love of travel and seeing new places.

Jeanette frequently worked part time. When Robert was deployed and the children were older Jeanette had to ensure the children got to school, to extracurricular activities and church. She also had to make sure the family finances were maintained. Although these times kept her very busy, when she spoke of them in later years, she did so with the satisfaction and pride of a job well done.

While Robert was in the Navy and even after, they moved around quite a bit. Their moves included assignments in Japan and the Panama Canal Zone, as well as Arizona, Florida, Washington, D.C., Tennessee, Ohio, and California. While Robert was working on a master’s degree and then while he was teaching accounting, they lived in Georgia and Missouri.

In 1977, they moved to Deland, Florida to be close to Jeanette’s parents and grandmother. Robert had an accounting business in Deland for many years. Jeanette went back to school and earned a bachelor’s degree in elementary education.

While assigned to a duty station in Arizona, Jeanette and Robert were baptized into the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. They were involved with the church as a family. Jeanette loved attending church and when she was in the Deland Ward served as the Relief Society president, the head of the women’s organization. She also spent many years as the chorister, leading the music each Sunday.

In their later years, they traveled all over the world, including Africa, New Zealand, England, Italy, Australia, Alaska, and elsewhere. They took many cruises to these places.

She is survived by her two children as well as nine grandchildren and 21 great-grandchildren. Jeanette Davis led a productive and blessed life. Jeanette’s family maintained a close relationship with her, and she will be remembered with love.

Jeanette’s children, Kathy and Richard, would like to thank the staff of the Memory Care unit at Sancerre Assisted Living facility in Orange City where Jeanette lived for nearly three years. Their care for her was so much appreciated.

A memorial service for her will be held on Saturday, August 8, at 11 am at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints at 1345 Aquarius Ave, Deland.