Velma Mae Davis

Velma was born to James Thomas and Gertrude Elizabeth Blagg in Denton County, Texas on August 16, 1906.She was the eldest of two daughters.Velma was a "Daddy's Girl" and preferred to be working beside him in the fields or milking the cows rather than being in the house doing domestic chores with her mother.Her father was an industrious and business-minded man.He dealt with people on a daily basis and passed this wisdom and joy of being around others on to her. The Blagg clan, of which there were many, loved to get together with family, friends and neighbors to have a social and dance.Velma and her sister, Alma Lee would get together with their cousins and friends and have a wonderful time dancing and playing games.Back in those days transportation was by horse, mule, buggy and an occasional horseless carriage.Velma loved to tell the story of her and Alma Lee learning to drive while their parents were in town doing their shopping.Velma found ways to be mischievous as a youngster and it carried on throughout her life.She yearned to be a clothing model from early on in her life, but her father was very much against that as a way of life for his daughter.He indulged her in just about every other thing you could think of, but that.Her uncle bought her a motorcycle, but she found that she was too afraid of it to ride it well, and it was sold to buy her and her sister clothes for school, she enjoyed dressing well from an early age. While she was still in her teens she met and fell in love with Harvey Button, who would later become her husband and the father of her two children, James Howard and Frances Maurine (Patsy) Button.This union was not destined to last and ended in divorce.She later met and married Gaston Davis.They lived in Dallas and she persuaded Gaston to learn to square dance and it became a driving force in their lives.The couple took in boarders during the lean years of the depression to help make ends meet. They wound up forming some life long relationships that endured throughout her life.A couple of "her boys" as she called them, still called and visited her until the end of her life.During the war years she did various jobs, candled eggs, waited tables, worked in factories and began to learn a trade that she would later form her own business around.Velma learned at a very early age to sew for herself.The clothes her Mother made for her, although pretty, were not to Velma's liking, so she taught herself how to tailor her outfits to fit to her body and suit her impeccable style.Velma's keen eye for pretty fabrics, laces, and accessories became her trademark throughout her life.She could make her own clothes without the aid of store bought patterns.After the war she worked as a seamstress in some of the large clothing factories in Dallas.She was in demand for her speed, quality, and skill with a commercial sewing machine.She became disenchanted with factory work and decided to supplement Gaston's income by keeping children at home.She seemed to have a way with children.They all loved her and would mind her very well.She again made some life long friendships.There are a few adults reading this today that have been in her care over the years. The love of her life, Gaston, passed away in the early 60's and she found employment with Mrs. Clint Murchison Sr. as a seamstress and companion.She worked there three years and Mrs. Murchison begged her to stay, but Velma had other plans.She had a dream and wanted to make it a reality.She started Velma Davis, Petticoats and Pettipants.She turned her natural abilities and the lessons that she learned at her Daddy's side into a successful career for more than 35 years. This has brought her countless friends and associates.She remained active in the North Texas Square and Round dancers community for over nine decades, only giving it up after she became too frail and weak to be a part of the activities.She maintained her love of dancing through many operations and illnesses.Her quote was "If I only had fifteen minutes to live, I'd dance the first ten minutes of it" Last year Velma celebrated her 100th birthday at Gale Fields Recreation Center with numerous friends and family at her side.She later received a surprise party at her beauty shop and then yet another party to celebrate her 100 years was given by her fellow square dancers.Velma never met a stranger.She had many friends made over a lifetime who loved her dearly.You could rarely take her out anywhere that she wasn't running into someone she knew.She was a very kind, fun, and spirited woman.She was a pioneer and lived her life to its fullest.We will miss her greatly. Preceding her in death were her parents James Thomas and Gertrude Blagg, sister Alma Lee Dutton, husbands Norman Gaston Davis and Harvey Button, Grandson Keith Ingram, Great Grand daughter Sandra Lopez. Velma is survived by a son James Howard Button wife Nalda, and daughter Frances Maurine (Patsy) Ingram husband William (Bill).Grandchildren, James Wayne Lipsey wife Marsha, Mona Elizabeth Hernandez, Noriko Ortega husband Jerry, Jimmie Ruth Williams husband Travis, Bill Ingram Jr. wife Patricia, Leslie Ingram wife Shiane, Jerry Bennett, Tony Bennett, Janet Bennett, Susie Bills, Michael Bills.22 Great Grandchildren and 41 Great-Great Grandchildren. Service will be 10:00AM Saturday September 1, 2007 at New Hope Funeral Home. Interment will be 1:00PM Saturday at Roselawn Memorial Park in Denton.Family will receive friends at the funeral home Friday evening from 6:00PM - 8:00PM.