Harriette Jo Townsend Davidson-Huber “Angelica”

Harriette Jo Townsend Davidson-Huber “Angelica”
23 November 1933 – 30 August 2022
 
On Tuesday morning, September 30, 2022, Harriette Davidson-Huber, (Angelica), 88, completed her mortal journey and crossed the veil of eternity.
She was born to Joseph Henry Townsend and Harriett Matthew Farquer on November 23, 1933, in the home of her parents in Springfield, Ohio. It was Thanksgiving Day. A year later her sister Grette Anne was born. When both girls were young their mother became ill and passed away several years later. Angelica would spend the balance of her growing up years with her Maternal Grandparents. Anne was with her father.
World War II and the Korean Conflict had a great impact on her life. Her grandparents moved to California during WWII to help support a wounded family member and Angelica went with them. It was in Hayward CA, that she started middle school and eventually graduated from high school in Arcata California. Her family had moved to Blue Lake, in Humboldt County, on the far north coast of California. She was staying with her Uncle Harold (Huck) Farquer and his wife, Juanita. It was in that area that she would spend most of her married life, raise her children and make an impact for good on many people.
Truman Davidson also lost his mother when he was very young, growing up in Western Montana and Southern Idaho. He had come west to Northern CA, to be with family and seek a teaching credential at Humboldt State College, which was a teacher college at the time. Harriette and Truman met, fell in love, and eloped to Carson City, Nevada, on October 17, 1951. They lived in Arcata while Truman finished school. The moment he finished school he was drafted into the US Army as part of the Korean Conflict. Because of his degree, he was assigned to the army training base in Georgia, where he helped the young serviceman who did not have a high school degree complete their education.
Their first child, a girl, Teresa (Terry) was still born, a great sadness for them. So it was with great joy that they welcomed Theresa Anne (Tisha) to their family on February 10, 1954. She would be several months old before Harriette and Tisha were able to travel from California to Georgia to join Truman for the balance of his military years.
Four more children joined the family, Truman Andrew (Dru) in 1955, Richard Byron (Rick) in 1957, David (Dave) in 1959, and Rebecca Renee (Becky) in 1960.
Following military service they lived in Weaverville Ca, where Truman taught eighth grade. From there they moved to Trinadad, where Truman continued teaching and school administration. Eventually then settled in a new home in McKinleyville Ca, where they raised their family. Truman became the superintendent of Peninsula Union Elementary School.
Harriette and Truman loved to dance, especially, Square Dance. They were members of the local club. As they raised their family, trips to the nearby ocean were common, as were trips to the redwood forest that surrounded the entire area, with it’s many rivers and streams. Camping at Richardson’s Grove, and Benbow reservoir were traditional summer activities for the family. Truman would attend educator’s conventions and Harriette and the children would be able to come along and play. All the children attest to them being wonderful parents.
Harriette had worked as a secretary during their early marriage. As the children began to grow, she returned to school to complete a training in nursing and worked for many years as in several doctors’ offices.
When she was young, Harriette had a great desire for religion and would go from church to church looking for what felt right to her. In 1963, missionaries from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints called at their home in McKinleyville. Harriette at first was sure she could prove their message false. However, as she read and studied it, she became deeply impressed with the message they brought about the Savior, Jesus Christ, and His Atonement. Eventually she was baptized with her oldest daughter Tisha and son Dru. Participation in worship and activities would be a hallmark of the family for the balance of their lives. Rick, David, and Becky would also be baptized. Even though Truman chose not to be baptized, he was a steady support of the family’s choice and worship all of his life.
As they were raising their family, Truman and Harriette were often invited to be chaperones for many church youth activities. They both loved the youth. Harriette served in many positions of responsibility in the Church including Stake Primary President and Area Seminary Coordinator.
Harriette was a careful homemaker. Her home was always very neat and clean and decorated to the season. She sewed many items for the children to wear, especially the girls, who learned the same skill from their mom.
Later she became interested in painting and found she had remarkable talent in both oil and pencil art, and as an art teacher. She owned two different art galleries and shared her talent with many art students; her favorite students were her grandchildren. Her art talent was also expressed in her needlework, where she created many remarkable pieces from small towels and pillowcases to huge bedspreads that were shared with children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and many friends.
Even later in life she became interested in massage therapy, attending training and gaining a certificate as a message therapist. During the later years of her life, she set her paint brushes and message tools aside, feeling the search for her ancestors was of greater importance. She invested many hours searching the records of the past. She was herself a remarkable journal keeper. Her journals were kept with perfect penmanship. One of her greatest gifts to her children and grandchildren are the collections of cards, letters, and pictures she carefully saved for each of them over the years. Those books provide a wonderful record of their lives. She can also count acting in her resume as she had a brief role in the pilot film, “The Good Samaritan,” filmed by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in anticipation of a full series of films based on the events chronicled in the Gospels of the New Testament.
The family spent many summer days in the waters of the Trinity River at Knight’s Trailer Park, just north of Willowcreek, CA. It was the place of many fun family reunions as their children married and added many grandchildren to the family. Grandad (Truman) was lifeguard by the gold rock in the river while Gramie, (Harriette) tended to the littler ones and kept the crew fed. The sound of the wind chimes on the summer breeze is remembered by all who ever joined them there.
Following Truman’s retirement from school administration they moved further inland to Orleans, CA. It was a very remote spot in the backwoods of northern California. Eventually Truman and Harriette separated while they were there. Harriette moved to the art community of Sedona CA and Truman stayed in Orleans. Even though apart, they stayed connected and cared for each other. Truman died in 2007 after a long struggle with diabetes.
While living in Sedona Angelica met James Huber and formed a friendship. Eventually they moved to Ohio to care for Jim’s father who was very ill. While there Harriette suffered the first of several medial challenges. A heart attack took her to the door of death. Jim nursed her back to health following the heart attack. Then it was reverse as Jim began a terminal battle with cancer. They were married not long before his death from the cancer.
In 2009, following Jim’s passing, Gramie moved to Sandy, UT, to live close to her children. She became a core part of her church and apartment community. During that later season of her life, she faced some great difficulties. She had additional medical challenges and eventually faced breast cancer at the same time as her daughter. Losing a daughter was a great sadness for her.
There were many wonderful moments for her during those years. Her grandchildren and great-grandchildren, who were her greatest joy. She worked weekly at the desk in the Jordan River Temple and held a weekly Home Evening for the older single members of Union Park Third ward. It was a great blessing to so many.
Harriette, Mom, Gramie, Angelica, spent her entire life trying to become the best she could, and was final was blessed to return to be with her mother, daughters Teri and Tisha, who were there to greet her.
She will be missed by her family Ralph E. Swiss, Son-in-law (Tisha-diseased) of Sandy UT, Truman Andrew Davidson (Sylvia), El Paso TX, Richard Byron Davidson– Wendover UT, David Ross Davidson (Jewell), Rebecca Renee Heaton (Evan), Eldorado Hills, CA. 25 Grandchildren and 31 Great-grandchildren.
Service will be held in Sandy UT, on Friday, September 9, 2022, at the Union Park 3rd Ward, 8060 South 615 East, Sandy, UT 84070. Viewing from 9:00am to 10:30 am. Funeral service at 11:00am. The funeral will also be broadcast on a zoom link. For those who want to watch please contact Ralph Swiss, or Becky Heaton.
Please follow link to be able to observe on zoom. https://lu.ma/huberfuneral
Service Information
Viewing September 9, 2022 at 9:00 AM
8060 S 615 E, Sandy, UT 84070





Funeral Service
September 9, 2022 at 11:00 AM
8060 S 615 E, Sandy, UT 84070