Obituary of Ardella Davidson

Virginia "Ardella" Thomas Davidson, born January 17, 1922 in Muskogee, OK, joined her husband, Gerald, in heaven on January 26, 2014 at the age of 92. Beloved mother, grandmother, sister, aunt and friend, Ardella leaves behind her son Alan and his wife Brenda, their children, Seth, Timothy, Ginny (who was named after her) and Aaron. Preceded in death by her son Jerry, she is also survived by his wife Tricia and their two sons, Eric and Michael. In addition, Ardella had six great grandchildren and one great, great grandson. She is also survived by one sister, Orene Thomas Hayner, one sister-in-law, Neoma Thomas of Muskogee, twelve nephews and nieces, and many friends. Ardella and Gerald were long time members of Eastern Heights Baptist Church of Muskogee and upon moving to Tulsa in 1965, joined Riverside Baptist Church where they were active members for over forty years. Her love for the Lord showed continuously as she strove to serve others. For over twenty years, Ardella worked as a secretary and aide at Webster High School. She loved working with the students and teachers and looked forward each day to contributing to their needs. After retirement, Ardella took art lessons and became quite a fine artist. She also enjoyed collecting funny sayings. Her home office was filled with "wise words" and cute cartoons. In her retirement years she also learned how to use the computer with the help of her son Jerry and made class directories for her Sunday School "ladies" as she referred to them. Mastering email, she shared her collection of "funnies" with her email buddies. She loved to laugh and was a joy to be around. However, the loves of her life were her children and grandchildren and family members. She was so proud of all of them and prayed diligently for them. In her family, she was known as "the best cook". Everyone couldn't wait for family picnics, Christmas, and Thanksgiving to have some of Aunt Ardella's divinity or meringue pie or baked beans or just about anything. She had a little plaque in her kitchen that said, "Kissin' don't last, but Cookin' do." Cooking was one of her ways of showing her love. Ardella was preceded in death by her parents, Walter V. and Roxie L. (Hall) Thomas; her husband Gerald D. Davidson, Sr.; her son Gerald D. Davidson, Jr. as previously mentioned; her sister, Agnes Ritchie Gunkel; and her brothers Donald, Walter Jr., Oscar, and Albert Thomas. Ardella will lie in state from 10-8 p.m. Thursday, at Ninde Brookside Funeral Home and funeral services will be held at 10:00 a.m., Friday at the Riverside Baptist Church on Peoria. She will be laid to rest beside her beloved Gerald at Memorial Park Cemetery, Muskogee, OK. If friends wish, they may donate to John 3:16 Mission, 506 N Cheyenne Ave, Tulsa, OK 74103 or Dayspring Villa, DaySpring Villa, P.O. Box 1588, Sand Springs, OK 74063 in honor of Ardella. Ninde Brookside Chapel ninde.com 918-742-5556