Davis-Goodwin celebrates 103rd birthday
Edith (Jennings) DavisGoodwin celebrated her 103rd birthday on Feb. 7. She marked the occasion by enjoying a fresh crab sandwich.
Edith was born on February 7, 1918, in Tillamook, Oregon, during the Spanish flu pandemic. She was the first born of six children to Cedric and Illa Jennings on a dairy farm in the Kilchis River Valley.
Edith graduated from Tillamook High School in June 1936 and, in September, relocated to Arcata to enroll at Humboldt State College. In February 1942, she graduated from HSC with a bachelor’s degree in education and minors in art and music. Edith was active in music productions in high school and at Humboldt State.
On Sept. 10, 1939, she married her college sweetheart, Otho Davis. They resided in Arcata, where he owned and operated D and M Lumber Co. She gave birth to four children: Pam (Cahill), Phyllis (Scoggins), David Davis and Micki Davis. With the college and her family expanding, they moved from what later became “The Davis House” on campus to a Victorian on 14th Street, now known as The Lady Anne.
Edith was active locally in many clubs, Eastern Star and the Arcata First Presbyterian Church.
In 1965, Edith and her family moved to Truckee, where Otho had purchased another lumber mill. In 1969, after separating from Otho, Edith and her youngest daughter, Micki, moved to Grass Valley, where Edith taught kindergarten at Ready Springs School in Penn Valley.
Eventually, Edith returned to Arcata and worked at Humboldt State University in the new student union building. Later, she worked for the Senior Employment Agency for nine years as assistant to the director.
In 1991, she became reacquainted and married her college friend, Edward “Kep” Goodwin. They were married until his passing in 1996.
Edith is well-known for her green thumb. She has been an avid gardener all her life, and particularly, she loves growing roses. She belonged to numerous garden clubs, including the Humboldt Rose Society and American Rose Society. She was also a long-term member of the California Native Plant Society and currently belongs to the Humboldt Botanical Garden.
After taking classes sponsored by the California Garden Club, she became a garden consultant and later earned her certificate as a consulting rosarian. She had well over 100 roses at her home on F Street, Eureka, some having been transplanted up to six times following her moves throughout the years. Edith and her roses won many awards over the years in shows.
Besides gardening, she was a lover of the outdoors and spent many hours hiking and backpacking in the Sierra Nevada and Trinity Alps, searching out wildflowers with family and friends. She was also a traveler, exploring the British Isles, Ireland, the Caribbean, French Polynesia, Australia, Mexico, Alaska and many other U.S states.
Today, Edith is enjoying her long life at Frye’s Care Home, where she is well cared for and respected. Her children, grandchildren and great grandchildren all love “Grandma Edie” and the many lessons she has brought to their lives.