Sonya Anne Davis

Sonya Anne Davis, née Voit, was born on May 5, 1939, in Terre Haute, Indiana, where she grew up and met the man who would become her husband, Lowell Dean Davis. The two attended high school together and went to their junior prom together, beginning a relationship that would span more than six decades. They married and built a life together, raising a family before eventually retiring to Florida. They remained together until Lowell’s passing from leukemia in February 2016.

Sonya came from a hardworking Polish-Lithuanian family whose history was shaped by the hardships and sacrifices experienced by generations of Eastern European families. Her family’s history included persecution and the hardships of war, experiences that influenced the values passed down through generations. Coming from a background where hard work, perseverance, and self-reliance were essential, Sonya carried those values throughout her life. Her strong work ethic, sense of responsibility, and determination reflected the resilience of the family and the generations who came before her.

Sonya earned her nursing degree from Indiana University and devoted approximately 26 years to a varied and demanding career in nursing. Her experience spanned numerous specialties and care settings, including hospital night shifts, newborn nurseries, burn units, oncology care, and geriatric nursing. She also served as the senior nurse responsible for an entire hospital floor during overnight shifts.

Later in her nursing career, Sonya moved into private-duty nursing, taking on complex cases that required considerable skill, patience, and determination. She was willing to care for challenging patients, approaching her work with confidence and a direct, no-nonsense manner. Some of those professional relationships grew into lasting personal friendships, with patients remembering and appreciating her care long after her nursing days were over.

After years in nursing, Sonya decided to pursue a long-standing interest in real estate. With encouragement from her children, she took the leap into a new profession, earning her real estate license and building a successful career that spanned approximately 30 years. Her accomplishments included membership in the Million Dollar Club. Her success in real estate reflected her work ethic, determination, and willingness to embrace a new chapter in her professional life.

Sonya was naturally conversational and often struck up conversations with people wherever she went, whether meeting someone at a restaurant or connecting with people through her work and community.

Family gatherings and holiday traditions created many lasting memories for Sonya and her family. She took pride in decorating her home for the holidays and making each occasion feel special. Thanksgiving was a particularly memorable time, with family members gathering early in the morning to prepare the meal and make pies together. Easter brunches and Christmas celebrations were also cherished traditions, bringing everyone together despite the distances that separated them.

Sonya’s home was often the gathering place for her children and grandchildren, where cousins spent time together and made memories of their own. Among those memories were the grandchildren’s adventures riding her wheeled gardening bench down the sloping driveway. These family gatherings, filled with holiday preparations, shared meals, and time spent together, remain fond memories for the family. Even as the years passed and family members lived farther apart, they continued to make an effort to gather for Christmas, Thanksgiving, and other special occasions.

After retiring, Sonya and Lowell made their home in The Villages, Florida. Following Lowell’s death, Sonya continued living there for many years. As her health declined in her later years, her family remained involved in her care. Her daughter Andrea devoted considerable time to visiting her and ensuring she was cared for, ultimately welcoming Sonya into her home during her final months.

Sonya is survived by her sister, Lynn Knott, and Lynn’s husband, Bob Knott; her three children, John Davis, Andrea Davis, and Kerrie Garcia; her grandchildren, Nathan Landers, Chris Davis, Brittany Wheeler, Dakota Snyder, Taylor Garcia, and Alexandra Pineda; and her great-grandchildren, Ariana, Lily, Bella, Cyrus, Shelby, Cooper, and Ally.

Sonya’s life spanned 87 years and included decades of professional accomplishment, a long marriage, family traditions, and many life experiences. Her family will carry forward the memories of holidays spent together, traditions passed through the generations, and the many occasions that brought them together under one roof.