In Memoriam:
Erin Davis
February 19, 1960 - September 27, 2024
Heaven gained the most precious angel as Erin Elizabeth Alexius Davis, 64, peacefully left us on September 27, 2024, surrounded by her loved ones at home. Erin was a loving wife, a caring and dedicated mother, accomplished businesswoman, generous community servant and loyal friend who will be deeply missed.
A memorial service will be held at 2 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 6, 2024 at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, located at 515 Columbus Ave. in Waco. A visitation will be held Saturday, Oct. 5 from 4-6:00 p.m. at Grace Gardens Funeral Home, located at 8200 Woodway Drive in Waco. A private family burial will take place at Oakwood Cemetery.
Erin was born February 19, 1960 in Memphis, Tennessee and moved to Austin, Texas at the age of 9. She attended Crockett High School, where she was a cheerleader and involved in the marching band that traveled to Washington, D.C. to march in the Bicentennial Grand Parade in 1976. After graduation, Erin attended the University of Texas where she studied business and played on the softball team that was later inducted into the UT Hall of Fame. She earned a Bachelor of Business Administration from the University of Texas in 1982 and a Masters of Business Administration from St. Edwards University.
Her strong work ethic began in college, when she worked for Southwestern Bell in the phone center. After graduation, she joined the company in the management development program, working her way up to area manager, retiring after 22 years of service. She served as president of the Baylor/Waco Foundation, president of United Way of McLennan County and was the first woman president of the Waco Rotary Club. She was an advisory board member for Waco Adopt-a-School, a board member of the Business Resource Center, McLennan County 911, the Greater Waco Chamber of Commerce and the Waco Business League, among other civic organizations. In 1994, she was named American Business Woman Associate of the Year and in 1996, she had the honor of carrying the Olympic Torch as it passed through Waco.
It was at Southwestern Bell that Erin met the love of her life, Bob Davis, in 1992. They shared a love of travel and married on an Alaskan Cruise in Vancouver, Canada. Erin’s down to earth personality, selflessness and infectious smile are a few of the many qualities that drew Bob to her.
Erin and Bob were blessed with two children, Alexus and Spencer. Above all, Erin enjoyed sharing her love of travel with her family, taking her children around the world with her husband, Bob, and often including her sister, Anna, and brother-in-law, Kurt. From Africa, to Australia, to Dubai and Europe, among many others, Erin wanted to give her children the gift of memorable experiences, more than anything else, and she did just that. Even in her final days, she enjoyed looking at family trip pictures and reminiscing on those wonderful moments.
Erin was the ultimate supportive mom, cheering loudly at Alexus and Spencer’s games. She was always up for a basketball game, a concert, or hosting the best birthday parties and sleepovers for her kids. She always had a cooler of drinks and snacks in her car for gamedays and offered her home as a gathering place for the kids. She poured herself into her children’s world, serving on the executive board of Waco Montessori School and Vanguard College Preparatory School. She joined the National Charity League with her daughter, while also serving as its president, and she supported her son as he achieved the rank of Eagle Scout.
Erin worked tirelessly and selflessly in the community to make everyone around her feel welcome and included in every way.
Most recently, she enjoyed spending time with family and close friends. She was always active in her fitness group and became a big fan of the tile-game, Mahjong, even traveling to Sicily, Italy to play with her Mahjong friend group. However, her ultimate happy place was with her family in Seaside, Florida - feeling the sand between her feet and listening to the waves crash on the beach. Her final wish was to visit that beach one last time with her family, and that wish was beautifully granted about a month before her passing.
Erin was preceded in death by her father, Robert Alexius.
She is survived by her husband, Bob Davis; children, Alexus Davis and Spencer Davis and his fiancee Carlyn Mattson; mother, Barbara Alexius and her partner, Greg Robinson; brother, Britt Alexius, and wife, Cathy; sister, Anna Maupin and husband, Kurt, and their son, Cole; brother, Marty Alexius; stepdaughters, Sherrie Davis and husband, Mike, and Diana Sisk, and husband, Tony, along with grandchildren, Charlie, Valerie, Jax and Hope; stepbrother Larry Phillips and wife, Robin, and stepsister, Beth Phillips.
The family would like to thank her doctors at MD Anderson, Providence and Hillcrest and give a special thanks to her numerous friends for their loving care and support during this time.
Memorial donations may be made to a few of Erin’s favorite charities - Caritas, United Way, Fuzzy Friends, American Cancer Society or Family Abuse Center.
Source: Grace Gardens | obituary posted September 30, 2024.