Rosa Marie McCovey Davis passed away peacefully on January 16, 2024 at her daughter’s home in Crescent City, CA. She was born June 29, 1944, in Hoopa, CA to Allen and Vada McCovey. She was a proud Yurok member of the Resighini Rancheria.
Rosa loved many things. She loved her husband John, whom she was married to for 58 years. She loved her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. She loved her family, friends, and community. But her loved ones all knew that her greatest love of all was Neil Diamond, although, some may argue it was Bingo. Rosa, and her cohorts, Marilyn McCovey and Pat Bailey, always made sure they had their tickets when Neil was performing in the Bay Area. She loved family functions. Every year she made it to the family camping trip on Memorial Day weekend- rain or shine. If she had a tarp over her head and Neil Diamond playing, she was content. She loved swimming in the Smith River under the Hiouchi Bridge and laying on the sand bar reading one of her many Harlequin Romance books. Rosa loved to dance, and when Merv George was playing nearby, she was sure to be there cutting the rug. She loved her soap operas, and even learned to use her VCR so that she would never miss an episode. She loved to bowl, and tournament play, especially when it was in Reno. Rosa and John loved traveling around seeing the sights and visiting people.Rosa Davis was a dedicated Community Health Representative (CHR) for 53 years at United Indian Health Services (UIHS). She was not only the longest tenured staff member at UIHS, but was also the longest employed CHR in the nation. It was estimated that she provided over 64,000 home visits, transports, and community contacts during her career. Rosa began her distinguished career in 1971, as one of the first employees of UIHS. She was an integral part of the growth of the CHR Program. Nationally, CHR Programs were established beginning in 1968 to meet the unique health care needs of American Indian and Alaska Natives. This program was designed for community members to be trained in skills of health care, disease control and prevention. Rosa worked diligently to connect her clients to needed resources and services to improve health outcomes. She had a special place in her heart for babies and their mommas. She was a trained doula who helped bring many babies into the world. She eventually began working with the grandchildren of clients that she helped deliver. This was not the only area of care that she brought her special talents to. She also assisted elders with their appointments, paperwork, and transportation. She probably put a good 600,000 miles on the vehicles she drove transporting her clients to appointments from Smith River to Eureka.She provided support and education on everything from birth to death. Rosa was always adapting to the ever-changing landscape of the health care needs of her community. Rosa had seen many changes in the world. Rosa not only remembered life before car seats and helmets, but took on the challenges of educating our families to use car seats and helmets to keep our future generations safe.Rosa received many awards for her work as a CHR, including a National Heroes in Health Award from the National Indian Health Board and a state award from the California Rural Indian Health Board. She became CDC-trained to administer and read tuberculosis tests during an outbreak in our community. She was able to work right alongside the experts as an expert in her own right.Rosa was a passionate and devoted advocate who impacted individuals, families, and the entire community. Her commitment and dedication to serve was unmatched. She deeply loved working with children, and one of her favorite aspects of her job was providing annual vision and hearing screenings at local Tribal Head Starts. She was a natural leader, teacher and mentor who was always open to sharing her opinion, knowledge, and advice. She believed in her colleagues and their abilities, strengths, and wisdom to be able to provide the best of care. Most importantly she believed in the mission of UIHS, “To work together with our clients and community to achieve wellness through health services that reflect the traditional values of our American Indian Community.” She brought laughter, joy, and humor to any room she was in. Her impact and legacy will live on forever through her family and the community that she so dearly loved and served.Rosa is survived by her husband John; daughter’s: Teri and Starla Davis; bonus-children: JR (Brenda), Heidi, Gina, and David Davis; grandchildren: Dwayne Davis, Tayler Davis, Myriah LaFazio (Brent), Skylar Griffin; bonus GG: Ethan and Jake Davis, Peyton Sambrana, Nick, Michael, Christie Folkins, and Angela Alvarado (Sergio); great-grandchildren: Abel Davis; Nathan, Marley, and Raina LaFazio; Jaylee Mello and Toh-tet Davis. Her siblings: James Lee McCovey, Desma Williams, and Tami Cairns (Doug). Her sister-in-law Marilyn McCovey; brother-in-law Tim Davis (Valerie); Daughter-in-law Julie Davis. Her aunts: Syd Carroll and Betty Brown.She was preceded in death by her son Allen Davis; father Allen McCovey; mother Vada John McCovey; brothers: Allen, Dwayne, and James Edward McCovey; sisters: Betty, Jackie, and Jene McCovey, and Vlayn McCovey-Bigovich.Honorary Pall Bearers are James McCovey, Tim Davis, Loren “Long Gone” McCovey, Dwayne Davis, Thorin and Aldaron McCovey-Bigovich, William Watts, Edward McCovey, JR and David Davis, and Brent LaFazio.
Viewing will be Thursday, January 25, 2024 at Wier’s Mortuary Chapel, 408 G St., Crescent City, CA from 10:00 am to 4:00 pm. Cremation will follow.Celebration of Life Services will be Sunday, January 29, 2024 at the Elk Valley Rancheria Sam Lopez Community Center, 2332 Howland Hill Rd., Crescent City, CA from 1:00 pm to 3:00 pm. It will be Potluck.