Editing Skeeter Davis (section)

==Early life==
Davis was born Mary Frances Penick on December 30, 1931,{{sfn|Davis|1993|p=7}} the first of seven children born to farmer William Lee and Sarah Rachel Penick (née Roberts), in [[Glencoe, Kentucky]].{{efn|Some sources list Davis's birthplace as [[Dry Ridge, Kentucky]], where she spent her early childhood.<ref>{{Citation |publication-date=September 21, 2004 |title=Deaths |publisher= [[The Tennessean]] |page=W11 |url=http://waxmuseum.net/SkeeterDavis.html |access-date=November 10, 2013}}</ref> However, in her 1993 autobiography, she states that she was in fact born in a small cabin along the bank of [[Eagle Creek (Kentucky)|Eagle Creek]] in [[Glencoe, Kentucky]].{{sfn|Davis|1993|p=7}}}} Because her grandfather thought she had a lot of energy for a young child, he nicknamed Mary Frances "Skeeter" (slang for [[mosquito]]), a name she carried for the rest of her life.{{sfn|Davis|1993|p=33}}

[[File:Skeeter Davis in 1941.png|thumb|upright=.6|left|Davis in a school photo, at the age of ten]]
When Davis was a [[toddler]], her great-uncle was convicted of murdering her maternal grandfather (his brother) in [[Indiana]].{{sfn|Davis|1993|pages=10–11}} After this incident, Davis recalled that her mother became a "bitterly depressed woman".{{sfn|Davis|1993|p=20}} Throughout her childhood, Davis's mother made multiple [[suicide attempt]]s, several of which Davis herself prevented from being carried out: "I once slapped a bottle of [[Bleach|Clorox]] she was drinking out of her mouth and sat on her hands to keep her from reaching for a butcher knife," she recalled.{{sfn|Davis|1993|p=21}} On one occasion, her mother attempted to leap from the family's apartment window with Davis and her infant brother in her arms.{{sfn|Davis|1993|p=21}} Her relationship with her mother remained strained throughout much of her life, and by Davis's account, she "couldn't seem to win my mother's respect and affection, [so] I turned my attention toward my daddy."{{sfn|Davis|1993|p=57}}

In the mid-1930s, the Penick family relocated to [[Cincinnati]], Ohio, where they remained for several years before returning to Dry Ridge.{{sfn|Davis|1993|p=22}} They later moved to [[Erlanger, Kentucky]], in 1947. Davis was raised a [[Protestantism|Protestant]], attending [[Christian Church (Disciples of Christ)|Disciples of Christ]] churches.{{sfn|Davis|1993|p=47}} As an adolescent, Davis was inspired by the music of [[Betty Hutton]] and also developed interest in musicals, memorizing songs from films such as ''[[Stage Door Canteen (film)|Stage Door Canteen]]'' (1943) and ''[[I'll Be Seeing You (1944 film)|I'll Be Seeing You]]'' (1944).{{sfn|Davis|1993|p=54}} She would sometimes stage routines in her backyard, dancing, singing, and telling [[ghost story|ghost stories]] to neighborhood children.{{sfn|Davis|1993|p=55}} When Davis was in seventh grade, her father relocated to [[Oak Ridge, Tennessee]], for work.{{sfn|Davis|1993|pages=64–66}} She and her siblings remained in the care of their mother who, during this time, became an [[alcoholism|alcoholic]].{{sfn|Davis|1993|p=87}} In the summer of 1948, Davis and her family relocated to [[Covington, Kentucky]], where her father was working as an electrician and moved into a house owned by the [[Villa Madonna Academy]], run by [[Order of Saint Benedict|Benedictine nuns]].{{sfn|Davis|1993|p=94}} Davis became fascinated by the sisters, and for a time considered becoming a nun.{{sfn|Davis|1993|p=108}}

While attending [[Dixie Heights High School]] in Erlanger, Skeeter met Betty Jack Davis, and the two became close friends, bonding over their love of music.{{sfn|Davis|1993|pages=99–104}} They began singing songs and playing [[guitar]] together during breaks at school, which drew attention from their classmates,{{sfn|Davis|1993|p=103}} and they performed in several school talent shows.{{sfn|Davis|1993|pages=103–105}} On a trip to the [[Grand Ole Opry]], the two convinced a stage manager to allow them backstage, where they met [[Hank Williams]] and [[Chet Atkins]].{{sfn|Davis|1993|p=107}}