Despite the fact that it was 2 p.m. on a workday, friends, family, neighbors and former students of Bertha Davis packed the Ballard First Lutheran Church on Thursday, June 9 to remember the life-long Ballard teacher.

Bertha Davis passed away peacefully at her home in May at the age of 97.

Born in 1914, Davis was a long-time Ballard-resident who was a beloved teacher at Webster School for over 25 years where she taught thousands of students and remembered every single one of them.

"She could remember everyone. And not just their name but also their parents' names and siblings' names," said grandson Jeff Hoover.

Davis was also a community activist involved in many organizations and projects, most recently the Ballard Bell.

"When she started a project, she saw it through. The Ballard Bell was an example of that," said Amy Ayers, a friend of Davis for over 40 years.

The old Ballard city hall bell rang again for the first time in years on Bertha's 97th birthday in February.

At the memorial service, tears were interspersed with laughter.

"Bertha had a great sense of humor. She loved to laugh and found humor in the most serious of times," Ayers said.

The attendees celebrated Davis' long and full life which "even 97 years is too soon to say goodbye," pastor Laurie A. Jones said.

Well over a hundred people came to Ballard to remember Davis. For some it was a school reunion in honor of their favorite teacher; for others, a final goodbye to their beloved neighbor. Some travelled from as far as California to give their respects.

Ayers and Hoover gave tearful eulogies highlighting the long, well-lived life of Davis.

Hoover recounted family cabin trips and playing cat and mouse, Davis' teachings and Sunday family dinners. He recounted how grandma would teach them the alphabet at the hand of license plates spotted on walks, and math in the kitchen as the grandchildren helped her cook.

Hoover said the grandchildren called her "Mayor of Ballard" as outings in Ballard with Davis would inevitably become a day-long excursion as she'd run into former students and acquaintances and visit with them.

"This didn't happen once a day, it happened about every 10 feet," he said.

But most of all, Davis will be remembered for her vision.

"Bertha believed every child has a gift," Ayers said.

"Her eyesight was terrible. Her vision, magnificent," added Pastor Erik r. Wilson Weiberg, who was Davis' pastor for the last 15 years. "She could see goodness in people that they themselves could not see."

One such person was Todd Kilne, who graduated from Webster School in 1972 with much help from Davis.

"This was before terms like ADHD, dyslexia and all and yet she recognized it and worked with me," said Kilne, who had trouble focusing in school.

"She taught me how to read. With every book I have every read, I thanked her. I didn't want to be in class but she made school interesting for me. She was the most beautiful person."

Weiberg and Ayers said Davis struggled with the concept of death as she had so much to live for, even at 97 years old. But Weiberg said once Davis found a purpose in dying, she made peace with it.

"Her final act was to teach. To teach her family how to die in faith, purpose, and love."