Ruby Nell Davis

Nell Been Davis died Monday, Feb. 7, 2011 at the age of 90. Nell was born June 2, 1920 in Eastland, Texas to Judge and Mrs. Elzo Been. She attended schools in Eastland, Carbon and Daniel Baker College in Brownwood and in 1938 she married Sydney Lee Davis of Elgin.

Her legacy to her family is the appreciation of history, genealogy, Bible study and overcoming adversity. The love of history grew from the works of her maternal great-grandfather, W.A. Ferris, who wrote the first account of white men in the Yellowstone area. She started gathering documents about the history of the Elgin area as soon as she arrived as a new bride. She wrote the histories of Hogeye (the first settlement near Elgin), the Davis family, the Been family, the First Baptist Church of Elgin and served on the committee that compiled the History of Elgin, Texas, 1872-1972 for the Elgin Centennial. She was honored by the Elgin Historical Association in 2010.

Her example of overcoming adversity began in 1996 when she had a laryngectomy and lost her ability to talk. This did not prevent her from communicating, however. She would write or talk with her servox. She taught herself to use a computer and the availability of the internet fascinated her.

Visitation will be held Friday, February 11, 2011 at 6:00 pm and memorial services will be at 2:00 p.m., Saturday, February 12 at the Elgin Providence Funeral Home. She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband and a brother, Truett Been. She is survived by two daughters; Julia Nell (Judy) Davis and Sydna Arbuckle and husband Ronny, all of Elgin. Grandchildren are Ronda Kirk and husband Carl of McGregor and Roger Arbuckle and wife Kathy of Canadian, Tx. Great grandchildren are Courtney Kirk of Waco, Colby Kirk of McGregor, Randall, Aaron and Ben Arbuckle of Canadian. The family requests that in lieu of flowers, donations be made to the Elgin Historical Association or the American Cancer Society.

Elgin Providence Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.