Doris Caroline Davis, 88, of Columbia, MO, died May 18, 2026, at her TigerPlace residence after a long battle with Chronic Obstructive Lung disease. Caroline was born on August 7th, 1937, in Marshall, MO, to Clarence M. Davis and Dora Clara Adams Davis. She was the youngest of six children.
She graduated from Mercy Academy in Marshall, St. John’s Hospital School of Nursing in St. Louis, received a Bachelor of Science in Nursing in 1965 and a Master of Science in Nursing in 1990 from the University of Missouri, Columbia. She practiced as a registered nurse in mid-Missouri her entire career and held nursing positions in service, administration and education. She served as the Executive Director of Missouri Nurses Association for 17 years. She was recruited to serve as the first alumni relations and development officer for the MU Sinclair School of Nursing and retired in 2004.
Her many honors included selection as one of the Outstanding Young Women of America, induction into the Missouri Nurses Association Hall of Fame, MU Alumni Association Citation of Merit Award presented by the School of Nursing, and the MU Faculty-Alumni Award.
She was a member of many professional organizations including the American Nurses Association, Missouri Nurses Organization, Alpha Iota Chapter of Sigma Theta Tau International Honor Society of Nursing. She was a life member of the MU Alumni Association, the Nursing Alumni Organization, a member of the Jefferson Club and the Sinclair School of Nursing Nightingale Society, and chair of the MU Legacy Society. She served as a docent for the MU Museum of Art and Archaeology and was a member of Museum Associates and the MU Fortnightly Club.
She was preceded in death by her parents, her uncle John Davis, brothers, C.M. Davis Jr. and Tom Davis, sisters, Jane A. Davis, Thelma D. Busch, and Billie Neudeck, nephews, Chuck Davis, Wayne Davis, Larry Davis, and nieces, Jan E. Bryan Greathouse and Judy Busch Kitson. Survivors include several nieces and nephews.
Memorial services will be held at 11:00 a.m. Friday, May 29, 2026, at Campbell-Lewis Funeral Home in Marshall. Burial will follow at Ridge Park Cemetery in Marshall. Visitation will be from 9:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. Friday at the funeral home. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions are suggested to the D. Caroline Davis Junior Research Fellow Endowment. Contributions may be made by check payable to the University of Missouri and mailed to 915 Hitt Street—S403, Columbia, MO 65211; The MU Museum of Art and Archeology, or the Central Missouri Humane Society. An online guestbook is available at www.campbell-lewis.com
Special thank you to the Navigate Wellness, St. Croix Hospice and TigerPlace for their care during her last months.