Nellie M. Davis

Nellie M. Davis, 100, of Perry, died Thursday, February 12, 2026, at King’s Gardens Campus of Perry Lutheran Homes.

Funeral services will be held Thursday, February 19, 2026, at 11:00 a.m. at Caldwell Parrish Funeral Home, Perry Chapel. Visitation will begin one hour prior to the service. Interment will be at Violet Hill Cemetery in Perry, Iowa. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Suncrest Hospice or the First Christian Church in Perry and left at the funeral home. Online condolences may be left for the family at www.caldwellparrish.com.

Nellie was born June 5, 1925, on a farm near Perry to her parents, Ervin and Laura (Reichard) Brewer. She graduated from Perry High School in 1943. Following graduation, she was employed by Northwestern Bell Telephone Company as a telephone operator. Later, she was employed by the Perry School System as a teacher’s aide.

Nellie was married to Merlin L. Davis on November 16, 1947, in Davenport, Iowa. They were blessed with three children: Cinda, Keith, and Lila. She devoted herself to her role as a homemaker, lovingly caring for her family. Nellie was a member of the First Christian Church of Perry and was active in many church activities. She was also a member of the Order of the Eastern Star and was past president of the State and Perry Does Association.

Nellie is survived by her son, Keith (Denise) Davis of Urbandale, and her daughter, Lila (Mike) Lind of Bouton; seven grandchildren: Terri (Brent) Soll of Harlan; Danielle (Bobby) Michaels of Kansas City, Missouri; Kevin (Emily) Davis of Ankeny; Juli (Tony) Johnson of Oskaloosa; Troy (Stephanie) Gilroy of Indian Land, South Carolina; Alex (Sara) Robb of Perry; and Logan Robb of Bouton; seventeen great-grandchildren; and five great-great-grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Merlin (2013); her daughter, Cinda Mathis (2014); her grandson, Brian Davis (2017); her brothers, George Brewer, Charles Brewer, Al Brewer, and Max Brewer; and her sisters, Louise Hall and Annie Mickelson.