Leola Davidson

Leola Logan Davidson

October 3, 1921 ~ February 17, 2015

Leola Logan Davidson passed away in her sleep on February 17, 2015.  Leola was born on October 3, 1921 in Dawson Springs, Kentucky to Joy and Hazel Castleberry Logan.

In 1947 she married Kenneth Davidson and moved to Ogden.  They lived many happy years in Ogden Canyon.

She came from a small town, but went on to accomplish big things.

Leola was a WWII Veteran, having served in the U.S. Army Nurse Corps from 1943 to 1946 on hospital ships in the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans.

She holds degrees in nursing from St. Joseph’s Hospital in Lexington, Kentucky and University of Utah; also a doctorate in education from Brigham Young University.

Leola worked at McKay Dee Hospital and Ogden Regional Hospital with students in the early years.  She worked with a group of nurses to establish the first Hospice Group in Ogden.  Leola was an emeritus professor of Nursing at Weber State University, where she served as a distinguished faculty member for more than 30 years.

Dr. Davidson joined the faculty of Weber State as an instructor in 1955.  She was chair of the Department of Nursing for nearly two decades.  She served as associate dean of the university’s school of health professions in the 1980s.  She helped establish the outreach nursing program.

Leola’s public service work includes acting as an accreditation visitor for the National League for Nursing; a member of the board of directors of Hospice of Northern Utah; a health issues advisor of the Utah Board of Regents; a consultant to the YWCA.  She belonged to the Chareya Club and the Ogden Gold and Country Club.  Significant honors received by her include the H. Aldous Dixon and Lewis W. Shurtliff awards from WSU Alumni Association; the Nurse of the Year and Educational Administrative awards from the Utah Nurses Association; and the Woman of the Year Award from the Soraptomist Club of Ogden; and WSU Honorary Doctor of Humanities in 2010.

After retirement she loved playing golf and bridge.

Leola is survived by nieces and nephews, all living out of state.  She was preceded in death by her husband, Ken; both her parents, and her three sisters.

Leola had many friends and students who loved and respected her.

There will be no funeral services per Leola’s wishes. Arrangements entrusted to Lindquist’s Ogden Mortuary.

Interment, will be at Leavitts Aultorest Mausoleum.

Thank you to all her caregivers at Mountain Ridge Assisted Living, and to Dr. Gary Holland and Hospice for Utah.