Lisa Suzanne Davis

Lisa Suzanne Davis

1959-2019

Lisa Suzanne Tipping Davis, a leader in juvenile justice, died Sunday after a heroic battle with cancer. She was born to Thomas Norman Tipping and Patricia Vaughan Tipping on August 31, 1959, in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Sooner born and Sooner bred, Lisa received her Bachelor of Business Administration from the University of Oklahoma in 1981 and her Juris Doctorate from the University of Oklahoma, College of Law in 1984. She was president of Alpha Phi Sorority where she made many life-long friends. In 1990, Lisa married John Davis. Together they had two daughters, Mary Melissa and Rebekah Suzanne, who were the joy of her life.

Lisa began her legal career in private practice at the law firms of Kimball, Wilson & Walker, and Musser and Bunch, where she gained more life enduring friends. From there she moved on to the role of Assistant Attorney General, where she first represented State of Oklahoma agencies and employees in civil litigation, and later she was contracted to the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education. She then served as the General Counsel for Governor Brad Henry from 2003 to 2008. Appointed by Gov. Henry in 2009 as an Oklahoma County District Judge, she presided over both criminal and civil dockets, until 2014 when former Chief Justice Tom Colbert named her as Presiding Juvenile Judge of Oklahoma County.

From that point forward, Lisa worked tirelessly to improve the juvenile justice system in Oklahoma, streamlining court procedures and processes, and working closely with all agencies involved in the juvenile justice system. She was instrumental in developing numerous programs including the Program for Female Youth on Probation, the Safe Baby Project, the Road to Independence Program, and renovating the juvenile center providing a more accommodating space for families and staff.

Her vision and determination culminated in the formation of Citizens for Children and Families which collaborated with several organizations to create The Family T.R.E.E. Its mission is to support and strengthen the families and the children that are involved in the child welfare system. Through public and private funds, the Pauline E. Mayer shelter will be converted to a family resource center, and it has been announced that it will be named in her honor, the “Judge Lisa Tipping Davis Family Center”.

Judicious throughout her life, Lisa was a relentless rule-follower even when it came to playing cards, dying Easter eggs, making Christmas candy, maintaining her pristine flower gardens, and decorating her daughter’s birthday cakes every single year! Some might say three Christmas trees are too many, but Lisa would say it wasn’t quite enough. One of the highlights of her life was decorating the Obama White House for Christmas!

Public servant, incredible mom, devoted daughter, list maker, and party-planner extraordinaire, Lisa will be missed not only by the juvenile justice system, but also by friends and family who were privileged to be part of her unique circle of love. She is survived by her mother Patricia Vaughan Tipping, her daughters, Mary Melissa Kaplan and husband Aram, and Rebekah Suzanne Davis, and by her sister Denise Tipping, brother Byron Tipping and wife Sharon, and her nieces Taylor Ruemmele and Madison Tipping, as well as her beloved dog Tink.

A celebration of her life will be held on Thursday, April 18, 2019, at 10:30 AM at First Christian Church, 201 E. 2nd Street, Edmond, Oklahoma. In lieu of flowers, friends are encouraged to honor her legacy through donations to Citizens for Children and Families, Inc, c/o Sarah Edwards, 2108 NW 59th Circle, Oklahoma City, OK 73112.