Michelle Davis

Michelle Davis

Sanborn, Iowa

            Memorial services for Michelle Davis, age 65, of Sanborn, who passed away on Wednesday, February 21, 2024, at Community Memorial Health Center in Hartley.  Her memorial service will be 1:30 P.M. on Friday, March 1, 2024, at United Church of Primghar with Pastor Mike Cooper, officiating.

            Burial will be at a later date at Riverside Cemetery in Spencer.

            Visitation with family present will be from 5 to 7 P.M. on Thursday, February 29, 2024, at the Eldridge Family Funeral Home in Primghar.

   Michelle Zoelyn (Black) Davis, the daughter of Talmadge and LaVon (Brownell) Black passed away on February 21, 2024, at the Hartley Community Memorial Health Center following a lengthy illness reaching the age of 65 years, 5 months and 15 days.

   Michelle was born September 6, 1958 in Spencer, Iowa, and was raised in Rossie, Iowa. She attended school at Clay Central School in Royal. Following graduation she furthered her education at Ellsworth Junior College, Minneapolis Institute of Arts, and then received her BA at Buena Vista College. While at BV she did a promotion of her hometown entitled: Rossie, Iowa “We’ve Got More Than One Horse”.

    After graduating from college she was employed at Jon’s Gallery in Primghar as a professional photographer. Here she was able to share her passion of photographing children. During this time she entered her cat Simon in a photography competition. Simon won the distinction of “Friskiest Cat in America” and was featured on a Friskies calendar.

    During her tenure as a professional  photographer Michelle was one of Iowa’s Top Ten Photographers several times including TheTop Ten Photographer of the year in 1992. 

   Michelle entered into her own professional photography business in 1993 known as Michelle and Company located in Sheldon, Iowa.

   In 1995 Michelle received her Master of Photography degree. This degree, one of the highest honors for professional image-makers, was presented in Chicago. Her workmanship had been accepted as representing the highest standard of professional photography. 

    Michelle married Michael Davis in 1999. She met Mike at a photography convention. Michelle looked forward to becoming a mother and she had that privilege through the adoption of Jada and two years later of Lauren. Both girls came from China. They were the joy of her life!

    From 2009-2016 Michelle served at Northwest Community College as an Instructor of Professional Photography.

    Michelle is survived by her husband Michael of 25 years of Sanborn, Iowa and daughter Jada (Douglas) Hinrickson of Sioux Falls, SD, daughter Lauren Davis of Iowa City, IA, one grandson Vash Hinrickson, and her siblings-

Sisters: Tamra (Dennis) Gullickson, Kathleen (Laurence) Bame, Mary (Steve) Niesen, and brothers Jon (Lori) Black and Jay (Lori) Black, Sister in law Clara Black,  as well as several nieces and nephews and many friends including two very close friends Lyna and Chuckie. Michelle will also be fondly remembered by members of Mike’s family.

Michelle was preceded in death by her father and mother, her sister Patricia Lamberson, her brother Jack Black and her father and mother in law Dick and Phyllis Davis.