Pearl Davison

Hastings resident, Pearl M. (Dufur) Davison, 86, died Tuesday, December 20, 2011 at the Grand Island Veterans Home, Grand Island, Nebraska.

Burial Office will be Thursday, December 29, 2011; 10:00 A.M. at Saint Mark's Episcopal Pro-Cathedral, Hastings with The Rev. Catherine F. Scott officiating. Burial with military rites will be in Fort McPherson National Cemetery, Maxwell, Nebraska at 2 P.M. Thursday. Visitation will be Wednesday, December 28, 2011; 1:00 P.M. - 9:00 P.M. with family present 6 P.M. until 8 P.M. at the funeral home. Memorials may be given to American Red Cross Hastings Chapter.

Pearl was born April 13, 1925 at Flower Hospital on 5th Avenue in New York City, New York to Norman & Mollie (Seligman) Dufur. She spent her early years between New York and Vermont. Pearl graduated from Jamaica High School on Long Island, New York. She became a Harry Conover model in New York. During the early part of WWII, she worked as a tester on bombsites at Sperry Gyroscope, New York. At night, she entertained service people at the Music Box Canteen. It was the only canteen that allowed Merchant Seamen in. Pearl joined the Army (WACS) on June 18th, 1945 and did basic training at Fort Des Moines. After basic, she went to Leadership school and then continued as a Drill Sergeant. She was transferred to Halloran General Hospital on Staten Island, New York. This hospital received all the casualties from Europe. After the hospital closed, Pearl transferred to Madigan General Hospital in Washington State. She was honorably discharged on April 27th, 1947. Pearl returned to the East Coast and joined the Air Force on September 28th, 1947. She was stationed at Westover Air Force Base in Massachusetts, where the Berlin Airlift was coordinated. Pearl was honorably discharged on December 14th, 1948. She received the WWII Victory Medal and the National Defense Service Medal. Pearl married Rodney G. Davison on November 4, 1977 in Glenvil, Nebraska. Pearl was a homemaker and a member of St. Mark's Episcopal Pro-Cathedral; lifetime member of Nebraska American Legion and Nebraska DAV. She was also a lifetime member of American Red Cross where she served on many committees as chairman; charter member of The Women's Memorial; Women's Army Corps Veterans Association; Mid Nebraska Women's Veterans Association; lifetime charter member of National WWII Memorial; former member and Vice-Chairman of Adams County Planning & Zoning; Cottonwood Festival Board; associate member of Professional Surveyors Association of Nebraska; and American Legion Post #53, Grand Island, Nebraska, was a District Commander and National Sergeant of Arms and member of DAV Hastings Post #9.

Pearl was preceded in death by her parents; sister, Marcia McGlynn and grandson Chad Michael Green.

Survivors include:
Husband: Rodney G. Davison - Hastings, NE
Children: Gary Smith - Colorado Springs, CO
Holly Horsham - Lincoln, NE
Brian Smith - CA
Jerry Green - CO
Grandchildren: 7
Great-Grandchildren: 3