Mariquita Spicer Davis

Mariquita Quita S. Davis, 92, passed away in Brea, California on February 12, 2016. Born on February 23, 1923 in Los Angeles, Quita was adopted by her parents, Claude & Lela Spicer.



Growing up in Los Angeles, Quita attended Bret Harte Elementary before graduating at Washington High School. She was a very accomplished woman, attending the University of California Santa Barbara, UCLA, Whittier College, and Pepperdine College. Quita began teaching home economics at Granada Junior High School when her daughters were in junior high. She later went on to teach 4th grade. While she was teaching, she earned her Masters Degree in Education. She taught for 20 years.



During World War II she worked for the Red Cross in Germany, which is where she met the man that would become her husband. In August 1947, Quita married James P. Davis, a First Sergeant in the U.S. Army. They were married on August 19th by a local minister in Germany, then married again on August 20th on the U.S. Army Base. Once she was married, it was required that she had to quit the Red Cross. She had her daughters in Germany. The family lived in Germany for a couple of years until Jim went to Korea. Quita and her girls moved back with her parents in Los Angeles while Jim was in Korea. After Korea they lived in Arkansas for a time before settling in Whittier. In her later years, she moved to Brea where she would reside for the remainder of her life.



She loved travelling, reading and crafts. She especially loved playing card games. Her daughters recall seeing their parents competitive sides come out when they played cards together. It always made for memorable times. She was active with the La Habra United Methodist Church; the Delta Zeta Sorority Alumni, of which her granddaughter and daughter were members; and was a member of the Order of the Eastern Start (Whittier Star Chapter #144). Now, as much as she loved these activities and her involvement in these organizations, nothing compared to the love she had for her family. She had a very feisty and delightful personality, and her devotion to her daughters, grandchildren and great-grandchildren had no comparison.



Quita is survived by her two daughters, Carol (Sam) Ward and Claudia Thrift; three grandchildren, Keri (Chad) Gorsage, Jeff (Rachel) Merino-Ott, and Jim (Jenny) Thrift; and six great-grandchildren, Madison & Shane Gorsage, Kailynn & Sophia Merino-Ott, and Jake & Jordan Thrift.



A Memorial Service will be held on Sunday, February 28th, 2016 at 12:30PM at La Habra United Methodist Church, La Habra. A private interment will take place at Riverside National Cemetery where Quita will be laid to rest with her husband Jim. In celebration of Quita, donations may be made to the Shriners Hospitals for Children in her remembrance at www.DONATE2SHC.org or by calling 213-388-3151.