Betty Lee Davis

Elizabeth Levanna "Betty Lee" Wallin Davis, 68, passed away February 19, 2010, at Owensboro Medical Health System. Born March 13, 1941, in Johnson City (Washington County), Tennessee, she was the daughter of the late Evelyn and James T. Wallin. She was a corporate officer of Big River Rubber & Gasket Co. Inc. She was of the Episcopal faith.

Betty Lee graduated from South High School in Knoxville, TN where she was the 1959 football queen for all of Knoxville's high schools, and winner of numerous city leadership awards. She was honored by the University of Tennessee journalism fraternity as its number one state wide journalism student. She studied journalism and public communications at the University of Tennessee, Southern Methodist University and completed her Bachelor of Arts at Kentucky Wesleyan College.

Betty Lee had many interests including writing, world travel and family genealogy. Her Owensboro community work included the Volunteer Bureau, RSVP, United Way, Hydrofair, and positions within the Junior League. She was awarded three keys to the city for her work on different Owensboro projects.

Betty Lee was a direct descendent of Elisha Wallin, the "Leader of the Long Hunters," a designation given by Franklin D. Roosevelt in his book, The Winning of the West. Wallin's hunting party discovered the Wilderness Trail about seven years before Boon's expedition. Two of the Wallin party had to guide Boone's group to the trail which helped open the way to the West.

Betty Lee is survived by her deeply loved family; husband, Merton E. Davis II; daughters, Elizabeth Holly Nunley (Greg) Williams of Dallas, TX and Renee Marie Davis (Keith) Robertson of Villa Hill, KY; sons, Marvin Bryan (Stacy Millay) Nunley and Benjamin Powers (Sarah Higdon) Nunley of Owensboro. She is also survived by 10 grandchildren: Jonathon Powers Nunley, Nicholas Bryan Nunley, Catherine Lynn Nunley, Mary Elizabeth Nunley, Abigail Alexandra Nunley, and Benjamin Powers Nunley II all of Owensboro; Jordan Leigh Williams and Blake Thomas Williams of Dallas, TX; Muriel London Dailey and Erin Lane Dailey of Villa Hills, KY. Other survivors include brothers, Jim (Brenda) Wallin, Jr. of Kingsport, TN and Wes (Cynthia) Wallin of Decatur, AL.

Services will be 12:00 Noon on Tuesday, February 23, 2010, in the Glenn Funeral Home and Crematory Chapel with Father Pat Connell officiating. Visitation will be from 10 a.m. Tuesday until time of service at the funeral home. Entombment will follow at Owensboro Memorial Gardens. Expressions of sympathy make take the from of daonations to:
The V Foundation for Cancer Research
106 Towerview Court
Cary, NC 27513
Donations may be made online at http://www.jimmyv.org/support-us/ways-to-give.html