1921
Elizabeth
2010
Elizabeth Pearson Davis
April 4, 1921 — August 15, 2010
Elizabeth M. Pearson Davis (Betty), one of the first women to serve in the working press area of major sporting events, passed away in Tulsa, OK on August 15, 2010 at the age of 89.
Born in Red Wing Minnesota on April 4, 1921, Betty was the daughter of Carl Raymond and Hazel Nordeen Johnson. She attended Red Wing Central High School graduating in 1939. On July 3, 1941, she married Clarence “Ike” Pearson at Bales Baptist Church in Kansas City, Missouri.
From the late 1940’s until his death in 1976, Betty assisted her husband in his role as official statistician of major sporting events in Kansas City.
She worked at National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) basketball tournaments, Big Eight and NCAA basketball tournaments, Big Eight and NAIA track meets, Kansas City Chiefs football games and Kansas City Spurs (ABA) and Kings (NBA) basketball games.
She was well known throughout the US by sports writers, broadcasters, college and professional athletic administrators and tournament officials.
In addition to her sports activities, Betty worked as a legal secretary and as secretary for several business organizations in Kansas City.
Following Ike’s passing in 1976, she married Frank G. Davis on September 5, 1981. During her latter years, she enjoyed craft work, fishing, water aerobics and reading and was active in her church, St. Mark’s Methodist in Overland Park, Kansas.
Betty is survived by her daughters, Penny Ball and Pam Christianson of Kansas City, Missouri; sons Kent Pearson and wife Patti of Tulsa, OK and Craig Pearson and wife Rattana of Manassas, VA; four grandchildren and six great grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her parents, infant sister Lois, brother Kenneth R. Johnson, LTJG USN, lost in the South Pacific during WWII, step-mother Stella Kopplin Johnson, one great grandson, two sons-in-law and her husbands.
A memorial service will be held at St. Marks Methodist, 6422 Santa Fe Drive in Overland Park, KS on Thursday, Aug 19. Visitation will begin at 1PM and the service at 2 PM, with internment at Mount Moriah to follow. Share a memory, sign an online guestbook, or express your condolences at www.overlandparkchapel.com
Born in Red Wing Minnesota on April 4, 1921, Betty was the daughter of Carl Raymond and Hazel Nordeen Johnson. She attended Red Wing Central High School graduating in 1939. On July 3, 1941, she married Clarence “Ike” Pearson at Bales Baptist Church in Kansas City, Missouri.
From the late 1940’s until his death in 1976, Betty assisted her husband in his role as official statistician of major sporting events in Kansas City.
She worked at National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) basketball tournaments, Big Eight and NCAA basketball tournaments, Big Eight and NAIA track meets, Kansas City Chiefs football games and Kansas City Spurs (ABA) and Kings (NBA) basketball games.
She was well known throughout the US by sports writers, broadcasters, college and professional athletic administrators and tournament officials.
In addition to her sports activities, Betty worked as a legal secretary and as secretary for several business organizations in Kansas City.
Following Ike’s passing in 1976, she married Frank G. Davis on September 5, 1981. During her latter years, she enjoyed craft work, fishing, water aerobics and reading and was active in her church, St. Mark’s Methodist in Overland Park, Kansas.
Betty is survived by her daughters, Penny Ball and Pam Christianson of Kansas City, Missouri; sons Kent Pearson and wife Patti of Tulsa, OK and Craig Pearson and wife Rattana of Manassas, VA; four grandchildren and six great grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her parents, infant sister Lois, brother Kenneth R. Johnson, LTJG USN, lost in the South Pacific during WWII, step-mother Stella Kopplin Johnson, one great grandson, two sons-in-law and her husbands.
A memorial service will be held at St. Marks Methodist, 6422 Santa Fe Drive in Overland Park, KS on Thursday, Aug 19. Visitation will begin at 1PM and the service at 2 PM, with internment at Mount Moriah to follow. Share a memory, sign an online guestbook, or express your condolences at www.overlandparkchapel.com
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