Helen Davidson

Helen Eunice (Stobaugh) Davidson, 93, of Salina, passed from this life on Tuesday, May 18, 2021 in Tulsa, Oklahoma. She was born on November 2, 1927 in Avant, Oklahoma; the daughter of Oakley Elbert Stobaugh and Goldie Gladys (Warren) Stobaugh. Helen grew up in the Topsy and Salina area before her family settled in the town of Salina. She enjoyed telling stories about running the banks of P and R Park, where they lived and helped her dad with his sawmill. She told stories of going to school at Little Brewer and playing basketball for the Salina Wildcats. Helen graduated from Salina High School in 1945. Helen married Norman Haskell Davidson in Fort Smith, Arkansas in 1946. They then moved to Oakland, California due to Norman getting a job in a shipyard. Both Helen and Norman went to work for Rainbo Bread for many years. While working for Rainbo, they lived in Juliet, Illinois, Pueblo, Colorado, and Albuquerque and Raton, New Mexico. They left Rainbo and moved to Pryor, Oklahoma when Lake Hudson was built. They started running Thompson’s Park in Salina, which is now Lakeshore RV and Recreational Park. Later in life, they would move to Salina where they built a house on the lake. In 1976, Norman and Helen purchased Dairy Deal, which they ran for many years before selling it to their daughter, Gina. When they purchased Dairy Deal, Helen was working for Horner’s, then went to Safeway in the meat department, where she would retire from. Helen liked to work and make money, so she started working at The Villager, a dress shop in Pryor, for Rhetta Crawford and later Chris and Kelly Underwood. Helen enjoyed cooking for her family. She liked baking desserts; her specialty was pies. She loved planting flowers in the spring, watching them grow, and watching her hummingbirds. Once or twice a year, she always looked forward to going to Laughlin with her boys. Helen also enjoyed watching all sports on TV and was an avid OSU basketball fan. She leaves behind many wonderful memories for her family to cherish.

Funeral services for Helen will be held at 11:00 a.m., Saturday, May 22, 2021 at Shipman’s Funeral Home Chapel. Burial will follow at Graham Cemetery with Nathan Baker, Frankie “Sonny” Grossman, Frankie Grossman, John Paul Littlefield, Brant Pritchett, and Andrew Littlefield serving as casket bearers. Honorary casket bearers will be Nick Baker, Michael Baker, Jason Barnes, Peter Littlefield, and J.C. Baker. Visitation will be held from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m., Friday, May 21, 2021 at Shipman’s Funeral Home. Funeral arrangements are under the direction of Shipman’s Funeral & Cremation Service.

Helen is survived by her children, James Davidson and wife Jan of Rosamond, California, Norma Beard and husband Gary of Ada, Oklahoma, David Davidson and wife Cornelia of Salina, Oklahoma, Gina Sistler of Salina, Oklahoma, and Peggy Pritchett and husband Ray of Salina, Oklahoma; step son, Johnny Davidson and wife Kathy of Pryor, Oklahoma; daughter in law, Aletha Davidson of Claremore, Oklahoma; 14 grandchildren; 29 great grandchildren; 10 great great grandchildren; and many other relatives and friends. She is preceded in death by her parents; husband, Norman; son, Kenneth Wayne Davidson; step daughter, Carrie Ann Dickerson; grandchildren, Clinton Dale Chancellor and Robert Grossman; brother, Elbert (Bud) Stobaugh; and sisters, Margarite Smith, Ruby Ferguson, and Marvelle Wilson.