Dorothy Cassidy Glenn (Dottie) Davis made her debut on October 10, 1951, the seventh of twelve children of Pat and Dorothy Glenn and was a force to be reckoned with from birth until her bright light dimmed and went dark on Thanksgiving evening, November 24th at 9:04 PM.
Dottie and her eleven siblings grew to adulthood in a rambling old home at 1919 Garfield in Lincoln. Dottie attended Blessed Sacrament Elementary and graduated from Pius X in Lincoln in 1969. At Pius Dottie excelled at everything, but was most adept at making friends. She cheered the Bolts as a Pius X cheerleader, performed in school musicals, worked on the annual staff and excelled at writing sensitive teen love poems and clever plays on words.
Dottie graduated from UNL with a teaching degree but soon took a position with Region V where she worked as a supervisor for the next fifteen years. She oversaw a number of programs and many employees and was universally loved by those she oversaw with few exceptions. Dottie had learned from her mother that a welcome listening ear could solve more problems than any instruction manual and her door was always open to her staff who all became close personal friends.
In 1992, Dottie embarked on a new career as the wife and partner of her husband, Al Davis, on his Hyannis, Nebraska cattle ranch. The Davis ranch was a hubbub of activity in those days, since Al had started a guest ranch a few years earlier which was featured in the National Geographic Traveler Magazine the year they were married, triggering a wave of requests for lodging and activities. After the summer onslaught of guests was over, the hunting season began with more guests. And later Al and Dottie hosted a number of performers who visited Hyannis and performed for the public. In addition, Dottie used her Catholic education as a springboard to teach catechism to Hyannis area children. It was a very busy time in her life but she rose to the immense challenges associated it.
With the introduction of internet services in the Hyannis area a variety of new opportunities became available to area residents. Online stock trading with low commissions was a developing industry in the 90s. In those early days there were many opportunities to learn about the market from other investors offering advice and online chat groups focused on day trading. Dottie plunged in and became an expert in investment analysis, using the many tools available free on the web and via guidance from other online investors. In 1998 Dottie’s photo by a Sandhills windmill graced Forbes magazine in an in-depth article about the new markets and market accessibility to new investors.
https://www.forbes.com/best/2000/0214/018_print.html
A few years later Dottie began a new career as a web designer, initially as a volunteer for the local community theatre and the church. Before long she was asked to build a website for a local ranchers who were interested in promoting their line of bucking bulls. That relationship opened a number of doors in the livestock industry and Dottie had several clients who she worked with before moving back to Lincoln.
On any ranch there are times when the boss calls for all hands on deck. And on almost every ranch that time is during a major blizzard during spring calving. Dottie stepped in to help bottle feed orphaned calves and fell in love with animals of every variety. A little yellow deaf kitten attached himself to Dottie one year, knowing a good thing when he saw one. Twenty-two years later that kitten left us just a few months ago and was waiting for some lap time in heaven when Dottie arrived.
Dottie’s love for God’s creatures wasn’t limited to cattle and cats. She rescued wasps from the swimming pool, spiders from basements, and once pulled a very lucky frog out of a snake’s mouth. And she felt that animals deserved respect-even in death. She often pulled over to remove a dead animal from the roadway and place it in the grass nearby—and then she would rail about the irresponsible drivers who couldn’t slow down to avoid killing one of God’s creatures.
An Internet game opened other doors for Dottie. She began to play an online word game called “One Up Me” in which participants vie to have the cleverest interpretation on a specific subject. The OUM game brought together people of like minds who built deep and lasting bonds between players. Through OUM Dottie built an entirely new circle of friends who delighted in her clever repartee and gave back as much as they took. It is a tribute to how Dottie was viewed by this OUM group that they raised almost $3000 to support the work of the Alzheimer’s Association in the short time since Dottie passed away.
She was a force in everything she did, a friend to everyone and one of those who “never met a stranger.” When Al decided to run for the Legislature Dottie was with him every day knocking doors to promote her husband as “the best for the west.” She was standing on street corners waving “Blood-Davis” signs at passing traffic in early November, 2022, helping to promote Al’s campaign for LT. Governor, less than two weeks before her death.
Dottie was diagnosed with dementia in August 2021. The diagnosis devastated this vibrant woman who was recognized for her rapier wit, her clever poems, her bright laugh and sparkling eyes.
Dottie is survived by her husband, Al Davis, sisters Cathy Sieckmeyer and Jan (A.J.) Muldoon, brothers Pat Glenn (Sandra Love), Bob Glenn (Janeane), Sister-in-law Joy Glenn, Joe (Michele) Glenn, John (Rita) Glenn, Jim Glenn, Tom Glenn and brother-in-law Jim (Kate) Kennedy, her many nieces and nephews, a legion of friends and two very needy cats. Preceding her in death were her parents, brother Mike Glenn, sisters Anne Glenn Hamill and Mary Glenn Kennedy, sister-in-law Linda Glenn and brother-in-law Ken Sieckmeyer. She is also survived by former spouses, Bruce Cudly and Dee Stovall.
A Rosary will be held at Butherus, Maser and Love Funeral Home (4040 A Street) on Thursday, January 19 at 7:00 PM. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at St Peter’s Catholic Church, (4500 Duxhall Drive) on Friday, January 20 at 11:00 AM, where Dottie faithfully sang in the Saturday afternoon choir for several years.
Friday evening from 5:00 to 9:00 family and friends are invited to gather at the Sesostris Shrine (1050 Saltillo Road) for a time of remembrance. Please join us for drinks and snacks and bring your singing voice. We’ll tell the “best of” stories about the remarkable person who was Dottie Glenn Davis, sing some sentimental songs, and remember this beautiful woman who made this planet a more equitable, bright, and beautiful place while she was living on it with us.
The family requests no flowers. Memorials can be directed to the Lincoln City Mission or the Capitol Humane Society or a charity of the donor’s choice. Condolences can be sent to 7200 SW 27th, Lincoln, NE 68523. Internment will take place at a later date in Hyannis.
The name Dorothy comes from the Greek word “Gift of God.” Dottie’s gifts were many-her grace, her endurance, her brilliance, her compassion, her love and affection for all. This earth truly was graced with a gift when she entered the world and it’s a poorer place now that she is gone.