Linda M. Davis
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Private family services for Linda M. Davis, 77, Lawrence were held at Warren-McElwain Mortuary. The burial took place in Memorial Park Cemetery in Lawrence. Linda died on March 13, 2025, at Pioneer Ridge Retirement Community in Lawrence.
Linda was born December 19, 1947, in Ellsworth, Kansas, the daughter of Herbert and Eva (Milberger) Michaelis. She lived in Russell, Kansas, graduating from Russell High School in 1965 and then attended Ft. Hays State University where she graduated with a bachelor’s degree in history in 1970.
She was a devoted wife, mother, and grandmother. As a homemaker, she volunteered extensively in the Hays and Lawrence communities and later worked as a paraprofessional at South Junior High School for several years starting in 1997.
She married Robert E. Davis on June 12, 1971, in Russell, Kansas. He survives of the home.
Survivors include her son, Steven (Katie) Davis of Overland Park, KS, four grandchildren, Landon, William, Amelia and Hattie; two sisters, Patricia Michaelis and Barbara Michaelis.
The family suggest memorial in her name to the Parkinson Foundation of the Heartland or to KU Endowment for the Landon Center on Aging and may be sent in care of Warren-McElwain Mortuary. Online condolences may be posted at warrenmcelwain.com.
So sorry to read of Linda’s passing. I always enjoyed seeing her. Condolences to sister Pat and the rest of the family.
Katie Armitage
Our thoughts are with you. We are grateful to have known Linda. Her enthusiasm and perseverance was inspiring. May your shared memories be a comfort to you all as you gather to celebrate her life.
Bob & Steven and family –
We still recall the memories of Linda yelling at our second baseman to ‘get lower’ and ‘run faster’ during our summers together in Little League while Dad quietly read a book. It was that tenacity and passion that we’ll always remember about Linda. Later, our paths would cross briefly at the end of KU volleyball games as Linda waited for her ‘pickup’ from her attentive husband.
She always asked about our family, but pooh-poohed her own struggles when queried.
Her force will be missed in our town but her memory will carry on. A life taken too soon.
Wishing the entire Davis family the best –
Bear and Donna Bryant
Lawrence, KS
Bob, Steven and family.
Harlanne and I send our condolences to you all.
We remember very fondly the years we were neighbors and how Linda incorporated our boys into their lives.
And she always showed a loving and positive attitude at every turn.
Peace to you all.
Bruce and Harlanne Roberts
Sending our condolences to Bob, Steven and family, Pat and Barb. Linda will be greatly missed. We always enjoyed visiting with her.
Her enthusiasm for life and perseverance with her own struggles were inspiring.
May your hearts soon be filled with wonderful memories of joyful time. Cherish your memories!
Dave & Valeita Williams
Wonderful memories of working with Linda at SJHS on projects and also at LHS. So grateful to have her as a neighbor. She is an amazing and great woman. Love to her family.
I am so sorry to learn of Linda’s passing. She was a lovely lady, a real role model for those of us who were younger. Our family has lost a gem. Sending my love and heartfelt condolences.
Steven, our condolences to you and your family. Your mother and I shared many things in common and it was always nice when we met up to catch up on our hometown ties as well as our sports’ connections. Give your father my love.
So sorry for your loss. I will never forget the times I spent with you guys going to KU games and making sausage at the farm. She was a great person and loved unconditionally. I will keep you all in my prays.
Wow! The memories.. We will miss Linda so much. But how very lucky we were to have a childhood spending so much time together. And then we grew up and still had great times together. Beannie and I cherish the times. We will cling to all of our special times.
Our love to you all!
Gene & Beannie Michaelis
Hey Bob & Steven,
Please accept my condolences for your wife & mother. Amy & I enjoyed being with her back in mid-to-late ‘90s when I worked for ESPN Regional & we attended the HawkTalk shows each week. This hits home with me knowing your family lived with Parkinson’s. My dad is in assisted living in Topeka. He has Parkinson’s & dementia. So, sending you lots of love.
We’re so sorry to hear of Linda’s passing. We always enjoyed seeing her at our reunions and when our families got together growing up. Our deep condolences!
Linda was a Sunday school teacher to all of my children, but she made a special connection to my very shy middle daughter. They became “hug buddies“ and would seek each other out every Sunday for a great big bear hug. Linda will always hold a special place in my heart for the love she showed to my daughter.
I just read of Linda’s passing when reading about Bob’s passing. I knew them from church and my granddaughter was one of their care givers during her clinical. I was always surprised that Bob was the voice of the Jayhawks as he was so quiet at church. Such a great couple. Prayers to their family including Steven.
Linda was a wonderful friend to me when I was in high school and college. We played in the bell choir together and I babysat for Steven. I went to my first KU basketball game with her and she turned me into a Jayhawk fan. I have very fond memories of her, Bob, and Steven. My heart goes out to her family during this difficult time. I’m so sorry for your tremendous loss.
So sorry t hear of Linda’s passing always enjoyed the visits at family gatherings. Our deepest sympathy.
We are so sorry to hear about Linda’s passing. Always enjoyed seeing and visiting with her at our family gatherings.
With deepest sympathies,
Patty & Jerry Driscoll
I was so sorry to hear about Linda’s passing and also Bob’s a short time later. I grew up with Linda and her sisters in Russell and were members of the UMC together through high school. Lots of fond memories of those early years and later with Bob who spent time when visiting at my dad’s drugstore-Dawson Drug-KState headquarters in Russell-lots of friendly teasing! Linda and Bob will both be missed by many but live through all the fond memories shared.
Linda always had a smile on her face & a kind word to say. I so enjoyed knowing her through the church.
So sorry to learn of the loss of Bob just a week after Linda’s passing. They are together again now. Thinking of you & sending my sincere sympathy to the family.
Eric and I were so sorry to learn of Linda’s passing and then of your father’s in such rapid succession. As an only child, it is hard to lose one parent, but both in such close proximity of time is even more painful. I was in the same situation as an only child and loosing both less than one year a part. I enjoyed working with Linda at SJHS for a number of years. She had made some little Jayhawk bead pins (on safety pins), and I gave a couple to our Japanese students from Hiratsuka. They were so enthralled that I asked her if she could make 24 for us to take as gifts when we took a group to Japan that next summer. She cheerfully agreed, and, of course, would accept no payment for her materials. I told her several times how much the Japanese kids admired that tiny bead work — no doubt most if not all still have those pins as a cherished memory of our visit to them. The world is a little darker today.
Mrs. Davis was an incredible woman, I met her as student at South Jr. High and she made a positive impact on my life. She cared deeply about her job and students. Sending many prayers to her family and friends.
Thankful for God and the family for sharing her.
We are so sorry to hear about Linda’s passing. Always enjoyed seeing and visiting with her at our family gatherings.
With deepest sympathies,
Patty & Jerry Driscoll
So good to see the photo of Linda. She is so beautiful. I don’t remember seeing her since highschool…a warm person☺️