Louise S. Davis

Louise Clark Sharp Davis died at home surrounded by loved ones September 18, 2023, in Salt Lake City, Utah.

Louise Davis was born November 16, 1932, in New York City to Ivor Sharp and Marianne Savage Clark Sharp. She gained a lifelong love of reading after teaching herself to read at the age of three, startling her fellow New York subway passengers when she read their newspapers out loud. When she was five years old, her family returned to Salt Lake City where her parents had grown up. Louise was a gifted student. She skipped two grades and graduated from West High School in 1949. In 1953 she graduated from Brigham Young University, having studied political science and served as a member of the Val Norn Society. Following graduation from BYU, Louise was accepted into the University of Utah College of Law but decided to pursue other adventures. Louise married James Cuttino Davis, Jr., whom she had met in the Salt Lake City 20th Ward, in the Salt Lake Temple in 1958. Louise and Jim moved their family around the country, first to Logan, UT, for Jim to finish his schooling, next to Vancouver, WA, for four years, and then to Columbia, MO, for 23 years. While rearing her five children, she served faithfully in many leadership callings in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, including several times as Primary president and Relief Society president and as a much-loved early-morning Seminary teacher. She instilled a great love of the gospel of Jesus Christ in her family and in those whom she served. Following their retirement in 1994, Louise and Jim moved back to Salt Lake. Her church service continued as a temple worker in the Salt Lake Temple, a Sunday School teacher, and by supporting Jim as a bishop. She loved living close to her two sisters with whom she shared an entire lifetime of laughter. She also enjoyed attending meetings of the Daughters of Utah Pioneers and monthly get-togethers of the women in the extended family. Louise’s home was a beloved gathering place filled with family and books. Known affectionately as Lulu by her dear sisters and extended family – especially her angel-face grandchildren – she closed all of her letters to her children with the words, “Love you, miss you and pray for you always.”

Louise was preceded in death by her husband, James Cuttino Davis, Jr., in 2014, and her sister, Luacine (Sally) S. Lloyd, in 2020. She is survived by five children, Karen L. Davis, Seattle, WA; Mary Ellen (John) Naylor, Overland Park, KS; Matthew S. Davis, Salt Lake City, UT; Ann Marie (Tain) Walker, Enoch, UT; and Stephen S. (Cara) Davis, St. Louis, MO; one sister, Annetta S. Mower, Salt Lake City, UT; 12 grandchildren and 14 great-grandchildren.

Funeral services will be held Friday, October 20, 2023, 11 a.m., Ensign Stake Center, 135 A Street. Friends may arrive for a visitation on Friday prior to the funeral from 9:30 a.m. to 10:45 a.m. at the stake center. Interment will be at the Salt Lake City Cemetery following the service. The family would like to give a heartfelt thanks to Joe and Jan Conrad who tirelessly watched over our mom, as well as to Visiting Angels. In lieu of flowers consider donating to the Fred Rogers Foundation or to the general fund of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.