Iona June Davidson... Age 89

Visitation will be 12:30-2pm, Sunday, October 16, 2016 followed by

Services at 2pm. Burial in the Osawatomie Cemetery, Osawatomie, KS.

Memorials are to the First Baptist Church of Osawatomie.

All memorials may be Sent c/o Eddy-Birchard Funeral Home
P.O. Box 430
Osawatomie, KS 66064
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Iona June Davidson, age 89, of Osawatomie, Kansas died Wednesday October 12, 2016 at Life Care Center of Osawatomie.

Iona was born June 15, 1927 in Grant City, Missouri. She was the eldest of ten children born to Lawrence Dwight and Gladys Faye (Hobbs) Thompson. She grew up in Grant City and graduated with the Grant City High School Class of 1945.

Right out of high school, Iona started working as a clerk for the Worth County Courthouse. She worked there for four years. On July 18, 1946 in Troy, Kansas, Iona married Orlie Davidson while he was on leave from the US Army. After Orlie was discharged from the military, he and Iona moved to a farm in Grant City and she became a homemaker. Together they had four children, Alan, Linda, Stephen, and Norma. The family moved from Grant City to Hiawatha, Kansas to Cameron, Missouri. Then, in 1968, to Osawatomie where they settled permanently.

Between 1970 and 1971, Orlie and Iona purchased Osawatomie Building Supply. While Orlie ran the store, Iona decided to go to work in the cafeteria at the Osawatomie school district. She was a lunch lady for about 8 years until she decided to retire.

Iona enjoyed cooking for her family and friends. Her family loved everything she made, but their favorites were her fried chicken, chocolate chip cookies and scalloped corn with oysters. A select few also loved her annual batch of bourbon balls! When she was not cooking, she loved to watch the birds and tend to her flower garden. She and Orlie traveled to all 50 states, Canada, Europe and Panama. She loved watching KU basketball and would not answer the phone unless it was halftime. Iona was a member of the First Baptist Church of Osawatomie and the local Order of the Eastern Star chapter.

She was preceded in death by her parents, five brothers, son Alan Davidson and great grandson Ryan Michael Hawn.

Survivors include husband of 70 years Orlie of the home; children: Linda (Tom) Burk of Louisburg, KS, Stephen (Robin Smith) Davidson of Independence, MO, Norma (Steve) Reynierse of Chesapeake, VA and daughter-in-law Linda Davidson; seven grandchildren: Jeff Davidson, Stacy Huffhines, Kristi Webb, Matthew Davidson, Sara Hemmann, Jennifer Hawn & Nicholas Chamberlin III; ten great grandchildren: Lauren & Brenna Davidson, Michael Huffhines Jr, Alexis Webb, Ian, Isaac & Owen Hemman, Charlotte & Grant Hawn and R.J. Davidson; one brother: Rex (Grace) Thompson of Milwaukee, WI; three sisters: Doris (Ted) Cerny of Marshall, MO, Marie (Paul) Lehman of Wathena, KS and Elaine (Clark) Stabe of Grant City, MO. Along with many nieces, nephews and other family and friends.