Alice C Davis

09-05-1930 - 03-12-2026

Alice was born September 5, 1930, to Gaetano L Mercadante and Alice G (Mahoney) Mercadante in Miami, Florida.  Shortly thereafter the family returned to Prizzi, Palermo, Sicily, Italy where they continued living for many years until Mussolini began infiltrating.  Her Dad sent her mother and her via ship back to the United States and he later came as well.  Gaetano and Alice G met when he was the Orchestra Leader at the Royal Palm Hotel in Miami.  He was a concert pianist and some of his sheet music remains.  Alice was very instrumental in civic organizations in Grand Junction, including the creation of the then Women's Division of the Grand Junction Chamber of Commerce, which included the start of free trash day at  the landfill, nicknamed Freshaza Daisy.  The City continues the annual event.  She also was involved in the Altrusa Club.    She moved to Grand Junction in 1959.  She and her then husband started Grand Valley Aviation, which decades later became a FedEx use of the hanger.  Many celebrities came through those doors, including Walter Cronkite.  She was a member of Immaculate Heart of Mary Church since she moved here.  Life changed in 1968 when she married Earl H Davis.  They met when she worked for Bookcliff Crane, along with two other jobs to support her two children.  The family was blessed with him as a great spouse and Dad.   They later started Daco Construction which existed for many years and some years employed upwards of 100 people.   She was also mercenary and business driven.  Some of her history included one of the first disposable wiping supply businesses C & P Wiping Supply, and Sports Unlimited for previously used sports equipment sales, along with her extremely close long time friends raising and selling earthworms for fish bait; but alas, that was not the finale of businesses.  She and her daughter managed three gift shops on Horizon Drive in two motels and a separate complex for over a decade.  They enjoyed many business travels for that.  Never a lack of laughter and enjoyment of life.  Alice was a volunteer at the Information Desk at St Mary's Medical Center for 20 years until Covid changed situations for those settings.   Alice and Earl loved to travel and enjoyed many cruises and road trips throughout their marriage.  She was always ready to take off on another trip and was fortunate to do so with her son, daughter, and granddaughter to other countries.  She enjoyed fun flights to Wendover and Laughlin with the many friendships that evolved from those.  She is now reunited with Earl and most of her family and friends.    Survivors include daughter Marie (Galen) Shope, son Richard (Rick)/(Phyllis) Davis, granddaughter Genevieve Shope, grandsons JR Davis, Jacob Davis, and four great grandchildren.   Those who passed before her include her grandson Christopher Earl Shope as well as Earl H Davis.   In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in Christopher's memory to Make-Wish.    Services will be held later.