Helen Lucille Davis

Helen Lucille Davis (née Ritchie), 88, of Las Cruces, New Mexico, passed away peacefully at home on January 15, 2026.

Helen was born on March 26, 1937, in El Paso, Texas, to Colonel Ernest L. Ritchie and Lora Ritchie. At the time, Las Cruces-where her family was living-had no hospital. Las Cruces would become the place Helen called home again and again throughout her life and where she ultimately became deeply rooted through her family, her work, and her lifelong advocacy for education and community.

The oldest of three children, Helen's early years reflected the mobility of a military family. She spent her childhood moving between Las Cruces; Washington, D.C.; Kansas; Georgia; and Texas, settling briefly in Tularosa, New Mexico, before returning to Las Cruces, where she graduated from Las Cruces High School in 1955. She began her studies at New Mexico State University, where she met the love of her life, Charles "Chuck" Davis, a lifeguard at the university pool. That very day, she invited him to her family's home for a casual lunch-fully aware they were about to sweep one another off their feet. They were married on June 2, 1956, at Immaculate Heart of Mary Catholic Church in Las Cruces, beginning a nearly seven-decade marriage defined by adventure, partnership, and a shared commitment to family, education, and public service.

Helen navigated the frequent moves and long separations of military life with resilience and humor. As their family grew, they left Las Cruces for stations in Texas, Mississippi, Washington, Ohio, Maryland, and Arizona. During the Vietnam War, Helen returned to Las Cruces with her six children to live with her sister, Lois Piper, and her sister's children (eight in total) while both of their husbands were deployed.

Helen's strength of character and determination were evident in her approach to education. Despite managing a large family through multiple moves, she continued to pursue her college degree. Coming from a family of formidable women-her mother's family had immigrated from Canada to Las Cruces, opened the Boutz Dairy farm, and sent all five of their daughters to college-Helen felt a deep commitment to finishing her studies. In Maryland, after persisting through more than 10 years of intermittent study, she earned her undergraduate degree from Bowie State College, one of the oldest HBCUs in the United States and a premier teacher education institution. She later earned a master's degree in special education from the University of Arizona.

Helen went on to teach, primarily in special education. She helped set the precedent for special education in the state of Arizona, playing a key role in establishing the learning disabilities program at the Tucson Unified School District. She left that position to accompany her husband when his career moved them back to Las Cruces in 1983. In all,

she spent more than three decades teaching in Tucson and Las Cruces, spending the majority of her career at Jornada Elementary School.

Helen retired in 2007 but never stopped advocating for education. She believed deeply that learning was a human right, and her commitment extended far beyond the classroom. She was active in the Tucson Education Association and later the National Education Association (NEA)–Las Cruces, serving as a contract negotiator, representing New Mexico nationally, and helping advance collective bargaining for Las Cruces Public Schools. She attended more than twenty NEA Representative Assemblies with Chuck, received the NEA Advocate of the Year Award in 1998, and was inducted into the Teachers' Union Hall of Fame in 2010. A scholarship bearing her name continues her legacy. Education mattered so deeply to Helen that four of her six children became teachers themselves.

Helen was also a central figure in the lives of her grandchildren: some lived with her, some next door, some nearby, and others arrived each summer for weeks at a time. She loved road trips and made them fun for everyone. She hosted summer camp for her grandkids year after year and turned everyday moments into opportunities to learn.

She loved to read-especially a good mystery-and was a fierce competitor at cards, Scrabble, and board games. Her game of choice, however, was Spite and Malice, and every child in the Davis family learned that bedtime was negotiable-as long as Helen was winning (or close to it). Her quick wit and banter made every game fun for anyone who witnessed her play or dared to compete against her.

An Aries to the end, Helen was determined and clear about her wishes. She insisted on her independence from hospital and hospice care and died in her sleep at home, cared for by her eldest daughter and family.

Helen was preceded in death by her parents; her beloved husband, Charles "Chuck" Davis; and her brother-in-law, Bill Piper.

She is survived by her sister, Lois Piper; her brother, Bob Ritchie, and his wife, Susan; her six children (all descendants listed from youngest to oldest): Bob Davis (Corrine), Kathie Davis, Carol Bauer (Steve), Mary Davis (David), Chuck Davis III (Mel), and Pattie Burnam (Denzil); her sixteen grandchildren: Sasha Davis, Samantha Davis, Emily Davis, Mads Davis, Erik Bauer, TJ Wignall, Kara Diaz, Robby Wignall, Stacy Burnam, Ashleigh Hiott, Jessica Wignall, Chuck Davis, Becky Armijo, Josh Davis, Mandy Burnam, and Helen Davis; and her fifteen great-grandchildren: Lyra, Esme, Isla, Oliver, Molly, Carter, Asher, Charles, Denny, Elliot, Cowen, Izzy, Jude, Jo, and Penelope, with two more on the way.

The family extends heartfelt thanks to Dr. Mercer, Dr. Corro, and Dr. Colato for their compassionate care.

A memorial service to honor Helen's life will be held in Las Cruces at La Paz Graham's Funeral Home on Saturday, May 23, 2026, at 3:00 p.m., with a reception to follow. In lieu of flowers, the family encourages contributions to the Charles Davis Second Chance Scholarship Fund, which Helen helped establish. Donations can be made through NMSU's giving page by selecting Doña Ana Community College at https://alwaysanaggie.org/donate/giving-university/.

Helen leaves behind a family, a community, and generations of students who are better for having known her.