Margaret (Penny) Cornell Davis

Margaret (Penny) Cornell Davis, 77, passed away on June 15, 2016. She was born on October 25, 1938, in Westerly, RI to Leo and Edith Messer Cornell. Her family moved to Venice, FL from Stonington, CT when she was 8 years old where she graduated from Venice-Nokomis High School in 1956 as class Salutatorian. She had played the coronet in the band, been a majorette, tennis player and all around social student during her high school years. She attended college at Florida State University in Tallahassee, FL where she achieved her AA degree and met her future husband, Gordon Davis. From there, they moved to Valdosta, GA where they had their first of three children, Gordon (Skip) B. Davis. They later continued raising a family in Ft. Myers, FL where Dixie M. Davis and Susanne (Susie) C. Davis were born. In the early 70’s, Penny relocated to Gainesville, FL where she earned her RN degree and worked as a nurse at Alachua General Hospital and then later at a private practice. She continued to raise her family, working at the hospital while she also took pleasure in volunteering for the church, gardening, painting houses, interior decorating, and just being the helper, social director and multi-tasker that her friends and family knew her to be. She had always been a loyal Florida State Seminole Alum until she met her match in Alan Pankratz, otherwise known as “Macho Gator”. Her life would never be the same. They were married in August, 1993, where they enjoyed almost 18 years together, visiting many of their grandchildren of the Pankratz extended family, traveling to as many Gator events as possible, serving in their church community, mentoring for the Take Stock in Children program and just staying socially active and involved. After Alan’s passing in 2010, Penny stayed in Gainesville for a few years until moving to be closer to her daughters in Tallahassee, FL. There she enjoyed the remainder of her life at Westminster Oaks as an active resident. She is survived by her children, Gordon B. Davis, Dixie M. Davis, Susanne C. Davis, her daughter-in-law, Rita S. Davis, her grandchildren, Stefania and Victoria Davis, her brother, John A. Cornell, sister-in-law, Natalie Cornell, her nephews, John Cornell, Jr. and Ken Cornell (Angela). She also leaves behind a number of other loving relatives as well as many beloved friends. A memorial service and celebration of Penny’s life will be held at 10:00am on Saturday, June 25th at St. Joseph’s Episcopal Church, 16921 W. Newberry Rd, Newberry, FL 32669. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to: Al’z Place, (www.eldercare.ufhealth.org), 1701 NW 80th Blvd #105, Gainesville, FL 32606; Cure Alzheimer’s Fund (www.curealz.org), 34 Washington Street, Suite 200 Wellesley Hills, MA 02481; the Cancer Research Institute (www.cancerresearch.org), One Exchange Plaza, 55 Broadway, Suite 1802, New York, NY 10006. Kelly Barber of Bevis Funeral Home (850-385-2193, www.bevisfh.com) is assisting the family with their arrangements.

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Margaret (Penny) Cornell Davis

October 25, 1938 - June 15, 2016