Agnes "Bobbie" Fitzgerald Davis Obituary (1927 - 2016)

Agnes Fitzgerald Davis "I loved my family and my community." Our beloved mother and Seattle arts community leader passed away peacefully at her home in Seattle, Washington on January 15, 2016, surrounded by all of her children. She was our center and will remain always our inspiration. Bobbie was born into the Roman Catholic faith Agnes Graves Fitzgerald on June 6, 1927 in Albany, New York, the last of five children of Thomas and Agnes Fitzgerald. Her sister Elizabeth, also known as Peep, bestowed the nickname. She was known as Fitz to her college roommates at Wheelock College in Boston, Massachusetts from which she received a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1948. Her first job was teaching a class of children whose families were from Puerto Rico. She embraced the school's vision--contributing to the vitality of families, communities, and societies--as her own. Married to Walter E. Davis, Jr. in 1951, she anchored a family constantly on the move in service to his career as an officer of the U.S. Navy. She was a community leader and volunteer at each stop: for the Association of Catholic Childhood, the Albany Children's Home, the Navy Relief Society of Charleston, the Service League of Northern Virginia, the Custis Lee Mansion, the Parent's Association of Pensacola, the Red Cross and the VA Hospital in Dallas. In Dallas she was president of the Navy Wives Club. Nine moves and seven children later, she settled in Seattle and began her community service career in earnest. Her leadership skills helped to bring the Pacific Northwest Ballet to Seattle in the 1980's and were put to work leading the Pacific Northwest Ballet League as president (1981-83), the Guild for Children's Hospital as president (1992-3) and the Seattle Opera Guild as president (1998-99). Her work included leading committees for numerous fundraising events for these organizations. She served on the boards of the Seattle Junior League, the Seattle Opera, the Catholic Childhood and Catholic Community Services. She engaged in the schools serving her children: Our Lady of Fatima and Forest Ridge and in her faith communities at St. James Cathedral and St Bridget Church. She was honored by the Junior League of Seattle for Volunteerism for Arts in the Community and with the Award of Distinction by the Opera Guild in 1996. Bobbie is survived by six children: Stephen Davis (Kimberly) of Vashon Island; Elizabeth Davis of Santa Rosa, California; Gerald Davis (Melissa), and Karen Davis (Mark) of Seattle; Walter Davis III (Janet) of Bainbridge, Washington; Susan Olson (Steven) of Tacoma, Washington; and by fifteen grandchildren: Alexander Banks, Joseph Davis, Olivia Davis, Julia Angle, Kate and Claire Rotter, Kyle Davis, Christina Davis, Erin and Samantha Kobos, Jessica, Mitchell and Anna Olson and Kaylin and Tyler Miller. She was preceded in death by her husband of 61 years, Walter E. Davis, Jr, and by her daughter Margaret. A memorial service at Saint Bridget Roman Catholic Church, 4900 NE 50th Street, Seattle, Washington on Saturday, January 23, 2016 honors a life of service, strength and inspiration. To send a flower arrangement in memory of Agnes "Bobbie" Fitzgerald Davis, please click here to visit our sympathy store.