Submitted by: Dan Rich

South Bend Tribune 9/11/2002

Berniece B. Michels Davis

Sept. 2, 1917 - Sept. 7, 2002

Berniece B. Michels Davis, 85, residing in Naples, Fla., formerly of South Bend, Ind., passed away Saturday evening, Sept. 7, in Naples Community Hospital.

She was born Sept. 2, 1917, in South Bend, as the daughter of Willard and Mary (Semortier) Harris, and lived all of her life in the South Bend area until moving to Naples in the early 1990s. She graduated in 1935 from South Bend Central High School. In 1941 as Berniece Harris, she married Richard F. Michels, who passed away on Oct. 7, 1982. Then on April 1, 1995, in Naples, she married Mills K. Davis, who died May 13, 2002.

Berniece is survived by a daughter, Betty Ann (Frank) Holden of Splendora, Texas; five sons, Richard (Terry) Michels of Flintstone, Md., William (Diane) Michels of Indianapolis, Ind., Robert (Dawn) Michels of Wolcottville, Ind., Jeffery (Kimber) Michels of South Bend and Daniel (Nance) Michels of Naples. Also surviving are a stepdaughter, Linda Kay Block of Burbank, Calif.; two stepsons, Richard (Vivian) Davis of Ann Arbor, Mich., and Thomas (Iris) Davis of Dayton, Ohio; and by 14 grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.

She retired in 1982 from Cardinal Healthcare Center as a receptionist. While living in South Bend she was a member of St. Anthony de Padua Catholic Church.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 1 p.m. Friday, Sept. 13, in St. Anthony de Padua Catholic Church. Rev. Terry Fisher, pastor, will be the officiant. Burial will follow at St. Joseph Valley Memorial Park, Granger, Ind. The family will receive friends one hour prior to services Friday in the church vestibule.

Memorial contributions on behalf of Mrs. Davis may be made to the American Heart Association, 2410 Grape Road, Mishawaka, IN 46545.