Margaret Shirley Davis

Margaret Shirley Davis, age 94 (known to all as "Shirley"), of Rio Rancho peacefully passed away at home, surrounded by family, on Saturday, August 24, 2024.

Shirley was born Margaret Shirley Haldeman, on June 26, 1930, in Summit Hill, Pennsylvania; her parents were John and Margaret (Weaver) Haldeman. Shirley graduated from Summit Hill High School in 1948 and joyfully maintained long-distance friendships with several classmates until the end of her life. She married Robert E. Davis ("Bob") on June 4, 1955, and they spent the first six years of their 62 plus year marriage living in York, Pennsylvania, where their eldest son, Bob (Robert E. Davis, Jr.) and their only daughter, Cheryl (Cheryl L. Davis) were both born. In 1961, the family moved to Santa Fe, New Mexico. Shirley and Bob's youngest son, Randy (Randall J. Davis) was born in Santa Fe a few years later.

Shirley managed the kids and the household, while her husband commuted five days a week to work at Los Alamos National Lab. Once the kids were all in school, Shirley went to work as a bookkeeper, and stayed at that job for more than 20 years.

Shirley and Bob were devoted to their children, and attended every football game, basketball game, track meet, band concert and choir concert that the kids participated in over many, many years. They also helped all their kids go to college and earn degrees at NMSU.

After retirement, Shirley and her husband moved to Albuquerque and built a custom home, where they lived for many years, before moving into retirement facilities (Rio Grande, and Palmilla). Shirley lost her beloved husband in February 2018. She was also preceded in death by her parents, John and Margaret Haldeman, her brother, John Haldeman, Jr., her older sister, Roberta (Haldeman) Merklee, and her younger sister, Elissa (Haldeman) Myers.

Shirley is survived by her eldest son, Robert ("Bob") Davis, Jr. and daughter-in-law, Maria (Llanillo) Davis, and grandsons, Errol Davis and Dorsey Davis; her daughter, Cheryl (Davis) Harris and son-in-law, Dean Harris; and her youngest son, Randall ("Randy") Davis and daughter-in-law, Leesa Walters.

Her favorite things were: spending time with family and friends - she adored her two grandsons, and was so proud of them, keeping in touch with long-distance friends (email and phone), caring for her cat "Squeaky", watching football (go Dallas Cowboys!), watching baseball (go Arizona Diamondbacks!), reading (loved her Kindle), listening to country music (especially Alan Jackson), and eating New Mexican food (especially green chile chicken enchiladas, and crispy beef tacos). She loved her family and friends with all her heart.

A memorial service for Shirley will be held on Saturday, August 31, 2024, at 11:00 a.m., FRENCH - Westside Chapel.