Edith “Tommy” Davis, 90

Long-time Valley resident Edith “Tommy” Davis passed away December 12, 2017 at the Rio Grande Hospital in Del Norte, CO, surrounded by her family. She was born Sept. 11, 1927, in Monte Vista to Lawrence and Bertha Schutte.

She grew up on the Schutte family farm near Homelake, where she earned her nickname “Tommy” by being a tomboy, keeping pace with her brothers riding horses and working with the stock. Her ability to shoot a chipmunk between the eyes off a fence post with her .22 rifle was well known. She trapped muskrats to earn money to buy a set of Fostoria glassware that her family still cherishes using on special occasions.
After marrying Randall, they made their home on a ranch on Pinos Creek above Del Norte.

While Randall worked as a vegetable inspector, Tommy did whatever was necessary to keep the farm running, including irrigating, baling hay, calving, and lambing. She was an excellent cook and seamstress, and always had a beautiful flower garden. She was an accomplished skier and on the ski patrol at Wolf Creek.

Tommy taught herself bookkeeping, and worked at the Del Norte Potato Growers for many years; she was very proud that her books were never a penny off.

After they sold the ranch and retired, Tommy and Randall enjoyed square dancing and being snowbirds, traveling to Arizona for 19 winters.

She also enjoyed playing bridge, reading and spending time with family.

Tommy was preceded in death by her parents; husband Randall; brother Robert Schutte, and sister Eva Nelson. She is survived by her sister Pat (Jim) Prendergast, Ridgway; and brother Bill (Beverlee) Schutte, Scottsdale, AZ. She leaves a legacy of daughters Jeanne Meardon, Lone Tree; Linda (Dave) Moreland, Montrose; Julie (Doug) Messick, Monte Vista; seven grandchildren, and five great-grandchildren.

Cremation was entrusted to Rogers Family Mortuary in Monte Vista. Per Tommy’s wishes, no memorial service will be held. To celebrate her life and love of picnics by a creek, a private family picnic will be held in the mountains at a later date.

Memorial contributions in her honor may be made to Carnegie Public Library in care of Rogers Family Mortuary.