Dorothy Jane Marble Davidson, an avid traveler, left Poplar Bluff for her last grand adventure on Saturday, March 26, 2022.
She was born Oct. 13, 1922, to Lee B. Marble and Dorothy Rebecca Smith in Portland, Arkansas. Due to the death of her parents at an early age, her maternal grandparents Dr. Robert L. Smith and Gertrude Munday Smith became her legal guardians. She was much loved and grew up in their family home in Russellville, Arkansas.
At the age of 20, she eloped by ladder at night from her grandparents’ house with David Davidson. They were inseparable lifelong companions, David outgoing and jovial, Dorothy quiet, patient but soaking it all in.
In many ways she led a very unconventional life for a woman during her lifetime. She preferred to be outside and eschewed housework, cooking, decorating and fashion. You might find her in overalls and a cap in her farmyard with her deer, birds, goats, chickens, turkey or cows. Or, dressed in camouflage with her guns ready to go hunting. You might find her driving a boat or piloting her airplane or riding her motorcycle, anywhere but inside the house.
Dorothy was a lifelong teacher and taught English in the Poplar Bluff school district and in Arkansas. After retirement and the death of her husband, she volunteered at the Methodist Church and as a Docent at the Margaret Harwell Art Museum. She also began to travel and had wonderful trips with her great friend Cathy Plunkett. She traveled to Egypt and her bags were lost and she lived in her same clothes for most of the trip. She traveled to Turkey and flew in a hot air balloon and slept on the floor in the house of a Turkish family. She flew to Greece and got stranded temporarily at the airport in Paris and was so thrilled to just land there. She had a marvelous week in Athens with her cousin and ordered “American coffee” everywhere they went.
A memorial service will be held at the Margaret Harwell Art Museum, 421 N. Main St., at 5 p.m., Saturday, April 16, all are welcome for a Remembrance Celebration with food, music and Dorothy stories.
In lieu of flowers, a gift can be made to the Margaret Harwell Art Museum in her honor.
Cotrell Willow Ridge Funeral & Cremation Services is proud to serve the family and friends of Ms. Dorothy Jane Marble Davidson. Online condolences can be made at www.willowridgefcs.com.