Davis, Edith Joyce

Arkansas City Traveler, December 19, 1995.
A part of Arkansas City history died today with the passing of Edith Joyce Davis.
Davis, 108, died Tuesday, (Dec. 19, 1995) at her home.
She was born Oct. 29, 1887, in West Bolton Township, the daughter of Joyce Ann Morris-Davis and James Young Davis. The family moved to 415 North Second Street when Edith was six weeks old, and she has resided there ever since.
Miss Davis graduated from Arkansas City High School in 1906, and later attended Baker University. After several years there, she returned to Arkansas City when her father suffered a stroke. Miss Davis received a bachelor of science degree from Emporia State University and was given an honorary degree from Baker University on Jan. 28, 1992, in a ceremony at Cowley County Community College.
She taught physical education in Arkansas City schools, starting in 1915, until her retirement in 1957. She had the distinction of teaching at each of the elementary schools and the junior high school boys and girls classes. She also taught an elective class of physical education for girls in the high school for many years, until she became the physical education instructor at the high school and Arkansas City Junior College. Miss Davis also taught physical education aor two summers at the University of Arkansas in the late 1920s.
At one time, she taught swimming at the request of the Red Cross at a pool north and east of Arkansas City.
Miss Davis loved Arkansas City and its people, and remembered her former students, naming each one and their skills many years after they were her pupils. She was particularly proud of her part in promoting tennis courts at Wilson Park, which required considerable effort to overcome resistance to cutting down a tree for the first courts.
She was instrumental in organizing and starting Girl Scouts in the Arkansas City area.
Miss Davis was active in the Arkalalah programs from their inception in 1928, until her retirement. She worked long and hard on the dances, pageants, and other phases of the Arkalalah celebration. She also served as secretary of the Arkansas City planning Board for two years.
Many years ago Miss Davis arranged May Fetes in Wilson Park with the local music and physical education departments. These included May Pole dances, and musical concerts.