Troy and Lisa Davis
For me the “heart” of the Andover YMCA revolves around a story of three amazing ladies who are no longer with us. Some called them the Three Amigos.
One of those ladies is my wife, Lisa, the sweetest, kindest, most faithful and gentle soul I’ve ever met. Another is her best friend Theresa, a larger than life, full of joy, faithful, funny encourager and former Y fitness instructor. The third is their good friend Becci, a sassy, lively and spirited ball of energy you couldn’t miss. You’d most likely find the three of them lost in their friendly conversation and folly in what some referred to as the “naughty corner” in Tiffany’s Zumba class.
In 2015, Lisa was diagnosed with a brain tumor. Following her initial treatment, she participated in the Y’s free LIVESTRONG at the YMCA program for cancer survivors. I tagged along as Lisa’s instructor Frances helped her grow stronger and helped us discover a community of friends and support the Y offered. We were both blessed by the LIVESTRONG program and became even more active at the Y.
I’d be upstairs either lifting or pushing out the miles on the elliptical while Lisa was in Tiffany’s Zumba class (or some other group-ex class). I’d generally come downstairs just before class ended to meet Lisa and we’d head out together. Being the encourager, Theresa eventually began saying “you need to come try Zumba with Lisa”.
Tiffany would tag on “… yes, come give it a try!”
After several weeks of prodding (ok, perhaps it was months), I reluctantly gave it a try. After a few weeks of stepping on my own two feet, or someone else’s, or going the wrong way (unintentionally), etc., etc., I was hooked.
Being the sassy one, Becci would jokingly give me a hard time, but seriously she was the sweetest friend Lisa could ever have. I wish I’d had more time to get to know her, but it wasn’t long after I began dancing with the Three Amigos that Becci became ill and was diagnosed with cancer. It was terribly heartbreaking to watch her fade so quickly.
This was my first experience with the “heart” of the loving support our local Y community brings.
Becci passed in September 2019. In a memorial service with a large Y community presence, Becci left us the parting remark “The only way to live a remarkable life is not to get everyone to notice you, but to leave a noticeable mark of love everywhere you go.”
Becci, you definitely left a noticeable mark of love everywhere you went. And although it wasn’t your intention, we noticed you!
During this period, I really began to take more notice of the community of friendship and love present at the Y.
As Lisa and I continued to dance together, attending events at nearly every branch in the Wichita area, it was a true blessing to experience the outpouring of love and support in the Greater Wichita YMCA community.
We’d often run into Theresa, who taught water classes at various Ys. I even tried some of those with Lisa.
The years passed too quickly as Lisa fought her battle with cancer and sadly Theresa fell victim to cancer herself. Theresa was a fighter and she fought her battle aggressively! She was high among the most positive and encouraging people I’ve ever met.
It was a blessing to see Lisa and Theresa together, encouraging and loving one another. Through all the years the support of our Y community never wavered. It was deeply heartbreaking to have Thersa pass in February 2024 and less than one month later, Lisa passed. Both memorial services were largely comprised of members of our Y family whose outpouring of compassion and love was indescribably comforting.