Peggy Davison

Peg Davison, 75, died February 25, 2008 at Mercy Hospital in Des Moines. Funeral Services will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, March 1, 2008 at Hamilton’s on Westown Parkway, 3601 Westown Parkway in West Des Moines with visitation at the funeral home beginning at 10:00 a.m. on that same date.
Peg was born September 14, 1932 in Galesburg, Illinois to Leonard Charles Davison and Ruby Lee (Mitchell) Davison and lived at various places in Illinois and Florida in her youth. Family circumstances necessitated that she live in a foster home at various times, and on each occasion, she was welcomed into the home of Floyd C. and Vada E. Peterson of Knoxville, Illinois. At the start of her junior year of high school, the Peterson home became her permanent home until she graduated from Knoxville High School in 1950. In the Peterson home, she felt blessed to have brother-like relationships with the three Peterson sons, Floyd, Jr., Howard and Bob.
After high school, Peg continued her education, receiving a Bachelor of Science Degree in Education from Illinois State, a Masters Degree in Education and Science from Drake University and a Masters Degree in Vocational Counseling from the University of Iowa. She began her working career as a teacher at Des Moines’ Howe School where she taught for many years. After receiving her degree in counseling, she switched careers and became a vocational counselor for the State of Iowa Department of Vocational Rehabilitation in Des Moines. She retired from this position in 1994.
While working as a teacher, Peg became acquainted with Frances Havens who worked as her teacher’s aide. This working relationship matured into a strong friendship with Frances and her husband, Don, and the four Havens children. In early 1962, she began residing with the Havens family as an integral member and even assuming substantial parental responsibilities for the two youngest Havens children. This relationship continued with Don and Frances until the time of their deaths in 1989 and 1992, and this same family-like bond with the Havens children lasted the rest of Peg’s life.
In her retirement, Peg continued volunteering her time by serving as a board member of On With Life, Inc. which provides rehabilitation services for persons with brain injuries. Her “family” suggests that any Memorial Contributions be directed to On With Life at 715 S.W. Ankeny Road, Ankeny, Iowa 50021. In her spare time, Peg loved watching her Iowa Hawkeyes, and during the period of 1972-1989, spending time with Don and Frances at her cottage on Lake Red Rock.
Peg is survived by her Peterson foster brothers, Floyd, Jr., Howard, and Bob. Her quasi-adopted Havens children, Paul, Pat Kennedy, Pam Cullivan and Phil as well as their families and a host of faithful friends in the Des Moines area and elsewhere. Peg was preceded in death by her parents; her foster parents, Floyd and Vada Peterson and by her close friends, Don and Frances Havens.

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