Rosella McLaughlin Davis

Rosella McLaughlin Davis left this world on March 1, 2025. Rosie, as she was more familiarly known, was born at home to Walter Clifton (Clif) McLaughlin and Josie Gentry McLaughlin on May 11, 1940, in Niles, Michigan. She was the youngest of five children. Her parents and all her siblings - Bill (Kate) McLaughlin, Mary Louise (Bill) Withrow, Pat (Phil) Beardslee and Betty (Pat) Neesley – all preceded her in death.

Rosie was six years younger than her next oldest sibling and, like many little sisters, wanted to be where her siblings were, including on dates. As her siblings were leaving with their dates, Rosie would run and jump on the car’s running board and hang on to the side mirror. Many times this tactic worked and Rosie was able to tagalong on dates. Because of this, her in-laws knew her for most of her life and considered her their little sister, too. Her favorite “big sister” was Kate Boller (McLauglin).

She met her husband, Terry Davis, in junior high school. They married in 1959 and in 2024 they celebrated their 65th wedding anniversary. As a young newlywed, Rosie worked at Andy’s and Woolworth’s in downtown Niles.

Rosie and Terry had two children – Tracie Davis of South Bend and Todd Davis, who preceded his mother in death. They have two grandsons – Terry (TJ) Davis of Niles and Nicholas (Nick) Davis of Indianapolis.

Rosie’s favorite class in high school was home economics and she loved being a homemaker. She believed in meatloaf on Wednesdays, spaghetti at least once every two weeks and if her family wasn’t gathering at her parents’ house on a Sunday, there would be roast chicken on her own table. Her signature dishes at larger family gatherings were baked beans and apple cake.

She made every Christmas special with non-stop baking and crafting and she never stopped wanting to see wrapped presents under the family Christmas tree. Rosie was also a talented needleworker and in the 70s, 80s and 90s she met weekly with a group of Howard Township friends to cross stitch and craft.

What most people know about Rosie is that she was a green thumb gardener. There wasn’t any plant she couldn’t grow. Through last spring and summer Rosie worked tirelessly on multiple garden plots at her home. Bees, butterflies and hummingbirds were almost as plentiful as the flowers that drew them to Rosie’s gardens.

Arrangements have been entrusted to Halbritter Wickens Funeral Services, Niles. Please share a memory or a message online: halbritterwickens.com.