Arlene Davis, a long time Longmont resident, is celebrating her 100th birthday.
Davis was born in Iowa but moved to Longmont after her late husband sold their tobacco and candy business. The couple moved their two boys, Jeff and Greg to Colorado in hopes of providing their children with more opportunities.
Davis was never one to shy away from a challenge or an opportunity. Before leaving Iowa, she worked in a county office and was about to run for public office before coming to Colorado. Early in her life she worked in California as Rosy the Riveter, she said. Once here, she found a job at Ball Aerospace and worked with many divisions within the company.
According to her son, Jeff Davis, Arlene Davis’ enthusiasm for the work she did at Ball inspired him to explore a career in the sciences. She worked in material control and worked in the stockroom managing electronic and raw materials.
Arlene Davis’ exploration for new things also inspired her son, Greg Davis, who is an oceanographer and woodworker in his spare time. “He makes some of the best furniture,” Arlene Davis said.
Her son’s agreed, their mother always had a project going on which is true. Arlene Davis learned how to bake, sew detailed quilts and widdle wood. She said she made furniture for a long time before some medication she was on made it unsafe for her to continue operating her favorite saw.
“I got interested in numerology and I tried to figure ways to that in dog racing,” Arlene Davis said. She enjoyed playing with numbers to find the best opportunity to bet on dog racing. On time, she bet on a long shot and won around $2,700. “That was it though, it didn’t work after that,” she joked.
Arlene Davis has two sons and nine grandchildren and many more great grandchildren. Until she was 98 years old, she lived alone and ran her own household. Jeff Davis said that it was pretty typical to get a call several times a week from Arlene Davis who offered rolls or loaves of bread for the family to enjoy.
Arlene Davis’ mother lived to 106 years old. The family joked that Arlene Davis’ mother attributed her long life to a dill pickle and carrot with each meal. “I don’t even like dill pickles,” Arlene Davis said as she jokingly debunked her mother’s secret. Arlene Davis’ said her secret is that she hasn’t stopped moving.
She said her biggest accomplishment was raising her two sons. “I’m proud of them,” she said, adding that they have each done a good job educating themselves. “My family means a lot to me.”
While Arlene Davis now lives in an assisted living facility, she said she stays active by walking the halls with friends and taking part in as many activities as possible.
To celebrate her birthday, her family held a large celebration in which they gathered and shared memories and laughs. On her actual birthday, Sept. 16, she is celebrating with a cupcake party with her friends at the facility.
At the beginning of the interview, Arlene Davis had not given much thought about her next birthday. For her it was another day and another year. As the interview continued she said she was beginning to realize just how important this milestone was. She said she was grateful for the opportunity to see her boys grow up and become successful, to watch their families grow and to have her health.
At the Longmont Leader, we wish Arlene Davis a very happy birthday and hope she has many more to share with her loved ones.
