Debora Macy Taylor “Debby” Davis, 90, of Amherst, passed away April 28, 2021, at the Encompass Rehabilitation Hospital in Ludlow, MA after a short illness.  Born in Springfield, MA on May 31, 1930, she was the daughter of Mary Leanna Henderson Taylor of Indiana and George Rogers Taylor of Wisconsin.

Debby grew up in a colonial era house on Utter Road in Pelham overlooking her much-loved Pioneer Valley.  Her father, George, was the head of the Economics department at Amherst College and her mother, Mary, was a homemaker, historian, and painter, in her later years.

Debby attended Earlham college (where her parents met in 1924) and completed her degree in elementary education at the University of Massachusetts in Amherst.  She married her first husband, Walter MacGrath, in 1951.  Walter passed a couple years after that of diabetes. 

Debby was a teaching in the Pelham school and then taught for the Department of Defense at a military base in Germany for a year.  Her experience there inspired her sister Sally and her husband Eric (Hohenthal) to begin their teaching careers with the DOD leading them to a life of service in Germany and Japan. Upon her return from Germany, Debby met Robert Howe “Bob” Davis and they were married in1962.

Debby and Bob bought an old dairy farm on West Pomeroy Lane in South Amherst where he ran his landscape business.  Debby “did the books” in addition to raising a family, teaching, tutoring, providing elder care, and, ultimately, caring for her own mother for 15 years prior to Mary’s passing in 1993.

Debby was a longtime member of the Unitarian Universalist Society of Amherst, serving as president at one point and on search committees for ministers over the years.  It was very much a home of acceptance and love for her and her son Dan.  Like her mother Mary, she was a lifelong believer in equal rights for women, people of color, and the LGBTQ community.

One of Debby’s favorite places was her parent’s gingerbread cottage in Oak Bluffs on Martha’s Vineyard.  She loved to sit on the front porch and read while drinking the occasional Manhattan, go to the beach, and visit with other family members on the island.  When her boys were young, she would let them explore the island on their bikes, frequently getting poison ivy and mostly avoiding skunks.  She enjoyed the annual lantern hanging celebration, Illumination Night, decorating the cottage with dozens of Japanese lanterns; lanterns that she appreciated even more because of an amazing trip to Okinawa, Japan to visit her sister Sally and her family.

Debby enjoyed reading, cooking, gardening and playing bridge.  She had a wonderful sense of humor, a positive outlook on life and was a joy to be around.  She was very kind and welcoming and both Debby and Bob would invite people into their home when times were tough.  Often their dinner table and their spare room were both full.

Debby is survived by her sister Sally Hohenthal and her husband Eric, of Oak Bluffs, MA; her son Taylor Davis, his wife, Karen Davis, of Amherst, MA and their three wonderful children Ryan, Patrick, and Meghan; and her son, Daniel Davis, and his wife, Pamela Mattson of Hopkinton, MA.  Debby was also lucky enough to have three great grandchildren and nieces and nephews.  Debby was predeceased by her husband, Bob Davis (2017).

The Davis family would like to extend a special thank you to the whole Debcor Home Care team for the care and support they provided Debby. They were instrumental in keeping Mom independent and in her own home.
A socially distanced memorial luncheon for friends and family is planned for Saturday, June 5^th at the home of Taylor and Karen Davis at 577 West Street, Amherst MA, from 1 to 4 pm.  Masks will, of course, be required.

In lieu of flowers, please consider making a donation to her much loved Unitarian Universalist Society of Amherst at: https://www.uusocietyamherst.org/connection/donate/