Jane Staubus Davidson

Jane Davidson died at her home in Littlefield, peacefully and surrounded by loved ones, on November 14, 2021. She was 89 years old.

Jane was born on Thanksgiving Day, November 26, 1931 in Clovis, New Mexico to Roscoe “Rock” Staubus and Lucia Nupson Staubus. It was a sad evening. Earlier in the day the Wildcats had lost to Portales, and now Coach Staubus had a girl. The football team sat in the hospital lobby and wept.

Despite the inauspicious beginning, things improved. Jane was a precocious child. She would often be happily lying on the roof, reading a book and watching the clouds, while the rest of her family was yelling for her to come in and help in the kitchen. She effortlessly memorized poems and Shakespearian soliloquies, amazing us all 60 years later when she would recite one off the cuff. She also learned Spanish. Her college instructors were shocked that she became fluent by taking classes in school instead of living in a foreign country. Her most vivid childhood memory was of witnessing the first atomic explosion on July 16, 1945.

Jane graduated from Clovis High School and attended Stephens College in Columbia, Missouri. She graduated from Oklahoma A&M University (now Oklahoma State) with a degree in Education.

Jane moved to Littlefield and settled down to raise her family. She had six children. Her love and support were constants in our lives. Even as adults when something went wrong, we often thought about heading home to be with mom. She might not approve of what we’d done, and the problem might still be there, but we’d be OK.

Jane had no intention of teaching. But in August of 1958 the school superintendent knocked on her door. The Junior High history teacher was ill and would not be returning. He needed a teacher and understood Ms. Davidson had a teaching degree. Would she do it? Jane thought it might be fun, so she’d teach for a year or two and then get back to her family full time. And after 41 years of service Jane retired from the Littlefield Independent School District. During that time she taught Eighth Grade American History, Sixth Grade Reading, Elementary Remedial Reading, and English as a Second Language. She achieved her Masters Degree in Education from Texas Tech University by attending classes at night. Jane nearly killed us as she would dictate and we would frantically type her papers the night before they were due. She then became the Junior High librarian, where she stayed for the rest of her career. Jane loved teaching, and she loved her students. For many she was a guide, an encourager, and friend. One mother, whose son had a particularly difficult time in Junior High, told us, “Your mom saved my son’s soul.”

Jane was an active supporter of the Lamb County Library for many years, serving on its board of directors. She was instrumental in its moving to its current location in downtown Littlefield. She was also an adult literacy volunteer, teaching people one-on-one how to read. After the light came on for one student, Jane asked him what he was going to do. He replied, “I’m going home and reading my children books.”

Jane was preceded in death by her parents, Rock Staubus and Lucia Staubus; her sister, Frances “Fran” S. Middleton of Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania; and son Jim Davidson of Littlefield.

She is survived by her children, Sally Davidson of Canon City, Colorado, Mary Davidson Bartle of Brooklyn, New York, Ben Davidson of Lubbock and Littlefield, Bill Davidson of Corpus Christi, and John Davidson of Whispering Pines, North Carolina. Jane had six grandchildren and three great grandchildren. She is also survived by her beloved niece and daughter by another mother, Anna K. Nupson of Ribera, New Mexico.

A teacher to the end, Jane donated her body to the Texas Tech University School of Medicine so that “mortui vivos docent” - the dead may teach the living. There will be a memorial service for Jane when the pandemic lifts.

Please make memorials to the First Presbyterian Church of Littlefield c/o Alan Newton or the charity of your choice.