Noah Albert "Abb" Davidson

 

17 Aug 1881 - 10 Dec 1947
Buried Mount Meta Cemetery, Cameron Co., TX
Son of William Riley Davidson and Joyce Adeline (Long) Davidson

December 1947 - Valley Morning Star

Final rites for Dr. N. A. Davidson, 66 year old pioneer surgeon of the Valley, who practiced in Harlingen since 922 were held Friday at 4 PM from the First Baptist church with the Rev. Harry V. Hamblen pastor officiating. 

Over 350 of the doctors immediate relatives and Valley friends were present.  Among his survivors present were his wife, Doris Davidson, two daughters Joy and Barbara, three sisters, Mrs. Clara Windham of Teague, Texas, Mrs. Stella Blair, Buffalo and Mrs. Fannie Bottoms, Corsicana, a half brother, Monroe Vann, Bufaalo, three nephews, Lawrence Blair, Houston, J. D. & W. A. Davidson, Teague and a niece, Mrs. Ray Fogleman, Houston.

Also present were Mrs. Davidson's sister and brother-in-law, Fern and Frank Drury, Harlingen, her brother and sister-in-law M. F. and Marguerite Drury Jr., Harlingen and Goldman and Bobbie Drury, Ft. Worth and her father M. F. Drury, Sr. of San Antonio.

Dr. Davidson died unexpectedly at 4:45 AM Wednesday in the Valley Baptist Hospital a few hours before he was scheduled to undergo an operation.  Although he had suffered for several months with a chronic illness, he apparently was in good form Tuesday morning, but became ill later in the day in his office and was taken to the hospital to rest before he underwent surgery.

Born in an East Texas community, Jewett in 1881, the son of Mr. and Mrs. Riley Davidson, graduated from Baylor Medical school in 1911 and did post graduate studies at Tulane University.  He came to Harlingen in 1922 and set up offices as a general medical practitioner, but as his surgical services increased, he became known primarily as a surgeon.  Long time acquaintances said that at one time, Dr. Davidson did half of the Valley's surgeries.

He was a member of several local and state organizations, both civic and medical and had been instrumental in the growth of the Valley Baptist Hospital, having at one time served as chief of surgeons and chief of staff for the institution.  He served four terms as a member of the school board and was serving his third three year term as president at the time of his death

Submitted by Pat Keenan, June 13, 2008