Obituary of Diane DeMoulpied Davis

Diane DeMoulpied Davis, born June 18, 1935, died Saturday, January 17, 2015. She would have been 80 years old this June. Diane, a native Floridian, lived in Live Oak, West Palm Beach and Tampa in her youth. She was the only child of Samuel and Harriet DeMoulpied, and her parents divorced when she was very young. She and her mother moved in with her mother's sisters, who helped raise her. Diane attended Florida State University, and on June 1, 1957, she graduated and received her nursing degree. During college she also met her husband-to-be, Jack L. Davis. They were married on July 12, 1957. They lived in several places throughout Jack's career at Florida Power Corporation, including Groveland, Deland, Mineola, Madison and Brooksville, before finally settling in Haines City in 1971. They had four sons, Larry Carlton, Mark Allen, Glenn Richard and Gregory Paul. While raising boys in Brooksville, Diane taught science at the elementary school, so she would have the same schedule as the children. After moving to Haines City, Diane began teaching nursing at Polk Community College. She taught there for many years, and kept numerous cards and letters from students expressing their gratitude and love for her. She was an excellent teacher and mentor. Diane loved animals, both great and small, as evidenced by the many memories her family has and the countless photos of the animals among her keepsakes. Among the many, there was Clipper and Klaus, the Dobermans, Corkie the Bulldog, Schreechie the owl, other birds, corn snakes and a raccoon. But her greatest love and passion was for her precious Maltese dogs. They were a primary focus and source of achievement and satisfaction during the last 3 1/2 decades of her life. Her home is filled with ribbons, pedigrees, awards, photos, breeding records, cards, collectibles and even lists of possible names for future puppies not yet born. She became a well-respected breeder of champion Maltese, and was nationally known and recognized. Her dog Ch. Windsong Master Showcase was named the (all-time) Top Producing Stud in the annual AKC record book in 1996. She took great pride in producing both top quality show dogs and excellent pets, and was an ethical and loving dog breeder. Diane loved to write things down. She wrote on notepads, envelops that mail came in, newspaper clippings, magazines, even greeting cards she received. Anywhere she could find a blank space, her thoughts were recorded! She wrote out phone conversations with family and friends, disputes with companies, lists of ideas, grocery lists, phone numbers, addresses and any other details of life of which she wanted to keep track. She often wrote her own quips on comic strips from the newspaper, and sent them to family members or posted them on her refrigerator. When you walked into her kitchen you could expect to find her latest comic hanging there. She loved mail order catalogs and did the vast majority of her shopping that way, so catalogs were always around the house with little notes about what to get for whom. Lots and lots of catalogs! She was generous and had a real knack for selecting gifts for her family. She kept a calendar every year (sometimes more than one) and she saved calendars dating back to the 1960's. Back then they chronicled the life of a busy family with four young sons. Later they chronicled her life and especially the lives of the dogs. She kept notes on football games when watching her beloved FSU play. The notes were particularly "emotional" when FSU would play the "dreaded" Florida Gators. The Davis household was a house divided - Diane and Jack went to FSU and the boys went to UF. When the grandbabies were little, she would dress them in FSU colors and send the photos to the parents. Diane had a great sense of humor. She was quick-witted, clever, loved to laugh, and to tell and read jokes. Diane loved Christmas and decorating. She would spend so much time on the details of the day, that food was almost an afterthought. She was very efficient, though, and for many years kept her Christmas tree decorated all year round, tucked away in the basement or the corner of the dining room. When the holiday came, she simply retrieved it and placed it back in the living room. She seemed to save every Christmas card she received and when the boys were little, she usually sent family photo cards (except for those really busy years when she addressed the envelops, but never got them mailed - she kept those, too!) She loved seeing her family at Christmas and never missed a year getting together with all who could attend. Diane loved her grandchildren. After having a house full of boys, and two grandsons whom she adored, she was delighted to have some granddaughters. She was very proud of all the grandkids and each was special to her. She was blessed with a great-grandson in 2011. Diane loved music, especially Doris Day, Tom Jones and Englebert Humperdinck. She kept her old 45's and 33 1/3 albums and the RCA record player. She also enjoyed reading and read a wide variety of books. Diane lived a full and fruitful life. She and Jack produced 4 successful sons, and they in turn produced 5 grandchildren, a great grandson and another on the way. Her family was all important to her. She had hoped to take the entire group on cruise for her 80th birthday. Diane's family will miss her very much. They take comfort in something she said after she found out she was sick"Heaven is for real". Diane was predeceased by her husband, Jack in 1991, and is survived by: Larry Carlton Davis, wife Ina Mark Allen Davis, wife Connie, two daughters, Kaley and Chelsea Glenn Richard Davis, wife Debbie, one son, Kyle, one daughter, Kara* *(to be married on 2/7/15 to Jordan Hiltner) Gregory Paul Davis, one son, Justin who is married to Brooke, they have one son Colton 3 ½, and one on the way In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorial donations be made in Diane's name to the American Cancer Society or the Humane Society of Polk County