On April 15, 2009, 58-year-old Julie Davis set off for a hike with her best friend in Rudolph, Wisconsin. As they were walking beside the road, a 19-year-old driving at 70MPH struck Julie from behind, killing her instantly. There were no skid marks and no evidence of braking. Crash reconstruction reports showed that the driver could not have been looking at the road for 8.75 seconds.
Julie was a quiet and reserved woman, who sang in the Moravian Church Choir and was a lay pastor to area Moravian churches. She completed a pastoral practicum and graduated from North Central Technical College in Wausau.
Julie was a devoted wife, a loving mother, daughter and sister and an exceptional grandmother. With 13 grandchildren, Julie was always going to dance recitals, sporting events, piano recitals and birthday parties, in addition to babysitting. She was always there for her loved ones and friends. 
Julie loved to be creative – from designing and knitting beautiful sweaters and blankets for all of her loved ones, to designing and making jewelry, writing inspiring stories and preaching the gospel.
On Julie’s last day she could be seen raking her flower garden and helping with firewood on her beloved farm in Rudolph, Wisconsin. 
Laurie Hevier, Julie’s daughter, is now an advocate against distracted driving.
Julie is part of the U.S. Department of Transportation’s “Faces of Distracted Driving series. View the video below:
