- Date Of Birth: July 8, 1921
- Date Of Death: June 30, 2016
- State: Iowa
Thelma Jean (Davidson) Westerly passed away peacefully on the afternoon of Thursday, June 30, 2016.
Thelma was born on July 8, 1921, on a farm east of Milo, Iowa, to Floyd Raymond Davidson and Eva Laura (Michener) Davidson. She graduated from Liberty Center High School in 1939, Chariton Junior College and continued on to graduate from Drake University with a BA in Elementary Education.
A lifelong educator, Thelma touched many lives and even taught multiple generations of several families. Her first teaching assignment was in a one-room schoolhouse in rural Lucas County where her day began by stoking the stove and sweeping out the building. Before her retirement in 1984, she would spend 25 years as a second grade teacher in the Southeast Warren School District. She often remarked that over the years she never had a bad kid in her class.
On April 26, 1942, she married Merle Vernon Westerly in Bethany, Missouri. Together they raised two daughters, Lila and Barbara in Liberty Center, Iowa, where Merle farmed and operated a garage.
A child of the Great Depression, she was a proud member of the Greatest Generation. Among the many community activities that she was involved in over the years, she took particular pride in her 70-plus year membership in the Liberty Center American Legion Auxiliary; her participation in founding the Southeast Warren Dollars for Scholars where she remained a long-time board member; the Warren County Low-Rent Housing Authority Board; and the Lacona Public Library Board.
Thelma was well known as a warm, thoughtful, and loving person. She enjoyed traveling with family and friends and was proud to have spent time in all 50 states but always held that Alaska was her favorite. Her hobbies included reading, quilting, ceramics, and walking with friends. Following a stroke, she taught herself to embroider left-handed.
Thelma always found the greatest joy in her family. She was a Christian and her servant’s heart was a comfort and inspiration to all.
Surviving her are her children, Lila (Vincent) of rural Milo, IA, Barbara (Michael) of Liberty Center, IA; grandsons, Mark (Sonia) of Des Moines, IA and Ryan (Kelly) of rural Milo, IA; great-grandchildren; Riley, Alejandro, Emma, Dawson, Fernando, and Griffin; and a host of cousins, extended family and friends. Thelma was preceded in death by her husband Merle; parents, Floyd and Eva (Michener) Davidson; an infant granddaughter; and brother Lyle Dean Davidson.
