Elaine Davidson

Elaine Davidson, 97, of San Diego, California, died Sept. 29, 2023. Born on May 13, 1926 to Morris and Elsie (Mehling) Mitchell in Cylinder, Iowa, she had many happy memories of life growing up on a farm near Fenton with her two sisters, Arlene and Marie, and her brother Dale. They went to a one room school a quarter of a mile from home. She graduated from high school in Fenton and attended Waldorf College. She graduated from Fairview Nursing School in Minneapolis in 1947.

Elaine and Irving Davidson were married July 28, 1950. They lived in Charles City and a short time in Marble Rock. They had four children, Noreen, Michael, Ione and Elynn.

St. John Lutheran was a big part of their lives. Elaine worked as a nurse at Charles City Hospital, nursing homes and spent some years as a stay-at-home mom. In 1972 she went to work at the Optometric Center. She enjoyed her work and coworkers there for 21 years. After retiring she worked at Jefferson School in the office and as a foster grandmother. When daughter Elynn became ill she left her lifetime home of Iowa to help in San Diego, California where she chose to stay after Elynn died in 2009. A lifelong Lutheran, joining Christ the Cornerstone was a great welcome to California. She made friends and found a home there.

Elaine was preceded in death by her husband Irving, sisters Arlene (Haller), Marie (Silrum), brother Dale Mitchell and daughter Elynn. She is survived by her children, Noreen (James) Shirk, Ione (Mathieu) Jazbinschek, and Michael Davidson; grandchildren, Emily Shirk (Albert Lobo Cusido), Jason Jazbinschek, Kelli Mischke, Todd (Danielle) Davidson and Kaitlyn Pitlik; great-grandchildren, Pierce and Sam Mischke, Juno and Ezra Mooney; sisters-in-law, Mary Mitchell, Shirley Davidson and Sharon Davidson; brother-in-law Lyle Davidson and many nieces and nephews. Elaine loved all of her large family and many friends.

A caring woman of faith she put others ahead of herself. She accepted hardships with the attitude that tomorrow will be better, illness without complaint.