Josephine “Judy” MacArthur Davidson passed away Dec. 5, 2023 after a period of failing health, under the care of Community Hospice, while living at St. Catherine Laboure Manor in Jacksonville, Florida. Judy was a long time resident of Jacksonville, Florida and a “summer person” in Boothbay Harbor, Maine.

Judy was born Dec. 14, 1926 in Brunswick, New York to Deborah Powers MacArthur and Charles Abner MacArthur. She grew up on a small farm in Troy, New York and graduated from Emma Willard School in 1944. She was in the U.S. Cadet Nursing Corps at Mary Hitchcock School of Nursing in Hanover, New Hampshire, where she earned her RN license in 1947. Judy received her BS in nursing in 1955 and her master’s in maternal & child health in 1963 from the Boston University School of Nursing. She was employed at Boston Children’s Hospital and Massachusetts General Hospital for many years.

In 1963 she moved to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania and was employed at the Montefiore Hospital in their Home Care Program for Chronically Ill Children. While in Pittsburgh, on a blind date New Year’s Eve in 1964, she met her beloved husband Charles B. Davidson, who was a teacher. After a short long-distance courtship, they were married on Aug. 28, 1965, at the B.U. Chapel and moved to Mineola, New York. She was employed as the school nurse and health teacher at the Human Resources School for physically disabled children until 1986.

Upon their retirement, Judy and Chuck moved to Jacksonville, Florida. Starting in 1967, the Davidsons began spending every summer in Boothbay Harbor, Maine, at their cottage called Davidson’s Landing on Mount Pisgah.

One of Judy’s passions was singing, which she did with many organizations, several church choirs and the Friday Musicale in Jacksonville. While singing with the Lincoln Festival Chorus in Boothbay Harbor (for 20-plus years), she and her sister Merrill enjoyed trips to Russia and Europe, joining the Salisbury Singers and Worcester Chorus all under the direction of Malama Robbins (of Maine and Massachusetts) She loved volunteering, which included Junior League’s Bargain Box in Boston, Boothbay Region YMCA, Boothbay Region Historical Society, and over 25 years at the Ronald McDonald House Charities and Riverside Presbyterian Church in Jacksonville. Judy was an avid reader, loved flowers and knitting and solving puzzles. Judy cherished her many friends in Jacksonville and Boothbay Harbor.

Chuck, her husband of 55 years, passed away in May of 2020. She was also predeceased by her sister, Merrill MacArthur Donald (Robert) of Needham, Massachusetts, and brother, Arthur “Mac” MacArthur (Vida) of Jacksonville.

She is survived by her nieces, Deborah “Debby” Kellstrand (John) of Rockland, Massachusetts; Susan Knott (Jim) of Jackson, Michigan; Katherine Shoemaker (Tom) of Lenox, Massachusetts; and nephews, Ross MacArthur Donald, of Needham, Massachusetts; Stephen MacArthur of Jacksonville, whose wife Sandy was there for Judy in her final years; and Robert “Bob” Kunkle of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Also, many great-nieces and nephews and great, great-nieces and nephews and cousins.

Judy was a member of the Riverside Presbyterian Church in Jacksonville and an associate member of the Congregational Church of Boothbay Harbor.

Judy will be interned at the Jacksonville Memory Gardens, Orange Park, Florida.

In lieu of flowers, if you wish, please make donations to the Ronald McDonald House Charities, 824 Childrens Way, Jacksonville FL 32207 or the Boothbay Region Historical Society, 72 Oak St., Boothbay Harbor, ME 04538, or the Congregational Church of Boothbay Harbor, 125 Townsend Ave., Boothbay Harbor, ME 04538.