Barbara Lavaun Bowden Davis

Barbara Lavaun Bowden Davis passed away in Bountiful, Utah January 22, 2024, at the age of 93. She was born in Midway, Utah on January 5, 1931, to Irvin and Lavaun Bowden. Barbara was the oldest of six children. Her younger siblings are Joyce, Beverly, Norman, Sharon, and Renee. As a child, Barbara learned to love God and how to work hard. 

Barbara graduated from Wasatch High School in 1949. She was a good student and loved history. She was involved in many clubs and activities. Her junior year of high school, she ran for class vice president against her dear friend, Gwen Pitts. Barbara lost by one vote after she voted for her friend, not herself. She was always a giving person and thought of others first. She attended Brigham Young University. At the encouragement of her mother, Barbara learned secretarial skills and worked for various local businesses.   

Barbara met Neale G. Davis in high school Algebra. They were married August 11, 1950, in the Manti Temple of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Neale and Barbara have five children: Scott, Connie (Leo), Gary (Jan), Bryan (Darlene) and Wayne (Sheila), 20 grandchildren and 40 great grandchildren. Barbara had a gift for remembering everyone’s birthday. 

Barbara was a very family-oriented person who loved and accepted everyone in her large family. Her first child, Scott, was born with special needs that required dedicated care from Barbara for the rest of his life. This brought many tears, great stress, and difficult challenges most will never know. But she was endlessly patient and loving. She raised a celestial child. 

She loved to travel with Neale and loved life’s good moments. She was an avid seamstress and made many beautiful quilts and handmade gifts. She loved the color blue. Barbara was an excellent cook and always fed those who entered her home. She made delicious homemade bread and preserved many foods, especially grape juice, from their expansive garden. Barbara made an amazing fresh peach pie. She loved her Swiss heritage and spoke of it often. She was an active member of the Daughters of the Utah Pioneers.

Barbara has an abiding testimony of the Savior and of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. She held many callings including Relief Society President. She said her testimony was instilled in her life at home as a young child. She served a mission with her husband for the Bountiful LDS Employment Center. She encouraged her posterity to keep the commandments and gain a testimony for themselves. She relied heavily on her faith during difficult times and encouraged her family to do the same. She was faithful to the end, always kept her covenants and lived celestial.

Barbara is survived by her two sisters, Joyce Clegg and Sharon Emery. Her husband and two children, Scott and Connie, predeceased her in death. 

Funeral Services will be held Saturday, February 3, 2024, at 11 a.m. at the Centerville 19^th Ward Chapel, 900 South 400 East, Centerville, Utah. A viewing will be held Friday, February 2, 2024, from 6-8 p.m. at Russon Mortuary, 295 North Main Street, Bountiful, Utah. A short viewing will be held prior to the funeral from 10 a.m. to 10:45 a.m. Interment will be held directly after the funeral services at the Centerville City Cemetery. 

Services will be streamed live on the Russon Mortuary & Crematory Facebook page and on this obituary page.  The live stream will begin about 10-15 minutes prior to the service and will be posted below.

Memories may be shared in the "Guestbook" on this obituary page.