Ruth Emily Wilson Davis, 101

Ruth Emily Wilson Davis, 101, a woman of profound
warmth, resilience, and creativity, passed away peacefully
on June 5, 2026, leaving behind a legacy of love that will
be cherished by all those who knew her.  

Born in Inglewood, California, Ruth grew up during the depression and learned early on that the richest parts of life were those spent with family and friends. Alongside her beloved sister, Ida Mae, and their parents, she spent her childhood weekends on picnics and hiking trails, developing a lifelong devotion to nature.

After high school, Ruth attended City College in Los Angeles where she discovered another passion: tennis. She often joked that if she could have majored in tennis she would have graduated with honors! A lifelong fan of the sport, she never missed a televised major tournament, and friends and family were kindly reminded that visits were to be scheduled around those tournaments!

After college, Ruth began working at the IRS in Los Angeles where her life took an unexpected turn when she met Aaron, a Navy medic stationed in San Diego. Introduced by a cousin, she fell for "that tall skinny kid from Ohio." The two were married in Inglewood, California and relocated to Mansfield, Ohio where Ruth poured her heart into raising their 5 children! She was active in all her children's activities while building on her own creative skills! 

Ruth had an intuitive and natural talent for design, and friends often sought out her magic touch to transform their
spaces. These talents carried her into her next chapter when she entered the workforce after her divorce. She worked in a gift shop where she learned the retail skills that helped her when she started her own business in Kalispell. She also worked for a printing company where she lent her creative eye by helping design the visual pages and food photography for the first Tappan microwave cookbook!

While Ruth loved Mansfield and her friends, she was ready for an adventure! She moved herself and her mother to Kalispell to be closer to her daughter Melissa. Together they founded The Cherry Tree, a popular women's clothing store that became a beloved fixture in the community for over 30 years. 

Though Ruth finally retired at 85, she never remained idle! She kept busy in her garden, helped her daughters with their own gardens, enjoyed long drives in the country, walks along the shores of Flathead Lake, and on her 92nd birthday, went on a short hike in Glacier!

Even though Ruth faced dementia in her later years, her capacity for love never wavered. She cherished her time spent with family and friends and found comfort and joy in her weekly drives through the country. She always spoke of how blessed she was to have a long life, and her family and friends were the ones who were blessed to share it with her.

Ruth was preceded in death by her parents Gordon and Charlotte Wilson; sister Ida Mae Hoglund (Bill); son Jeffrey Davis and former husband Aaron Davis. She is survived by her daughters; Deborah Davis, Leslie Davis, Laura Bagley (Jim) and Melissa Clausen (Kim); Grandchildren Jared Davis (Lis), Lorrie Williams, Adam Bagley, Ian Bagley and Alex Rambo (Jason); Great grandchildren Bella Gillette, Aaron Davis, Millicent Davis, Maizie Rambo and Miley Rambo.

Ruth will be buried in Inglewood Cemetery alongside her
beloved parents and a celebration of life will be held at a later date.