Obituaries

David Clyde Davis, 83, of Sherman, Texas, passed away Tuesday March 11, 2014, in Sherman, Texas. He was born July 15, 1930, in Pilot Point, Texas to Thomas Henry Davis and Verdie Mae Smith Davis. He spent his childhood in rural north Texas before enlisting in the US Army at the age of 17. A weekend pass in the spring of 1948, while stationed in Fort Knox, Kentucky, found David at a Louisville skating rink, where he met Lucille Durrett, who was to become his wife. They married in Jeffersonville, Indiana on November 6, 1948. David served overseas in the Korean War while his wife and two young daughters waited in Pilot Point, Texas. After the war, David lived stateside, before being transferred, in 1955, to Babenhausen, Germany, where the family lived for two years, welcoming a third daughter during that time. In August 1965, Mr. Davis received orders sending him to Alaska. The family drove the ALCAN Highway from Fort Knox, Kentucky to Fort Wainwright, Alaska, enjoying the highway adventure by day and camping out at night. An adopted Eskimo daughter became part of the family in Alaska. From panning for gold, hunting wild blueberries and picnics in the wilderness, to earthquakes, floods and wild moose at the back door, life in Alaska provided many happy memories for David and his family. In December 1967 they headed to Oklahoma, once again driving the ALCAN Highway, this time in the darkness of the arctic winter. It was still an adventure but considerably colder, with nights spent in motels instead of a tent. What memories! Thank you Dad! We love you. David Davis retired from the US Army in 1969 and moved his family to Sherman, Texas. In the years that followed, Mr. Davis and his wife bought the Ida Grocery in Ida, Texas, then went on to become the owner/operators of the Davis Grocery, Ideal Foods and the DD Restaurant, all in Tom Bean, Texas. David Davis is survived by his wife of 65 years, Lucille; daughters: Linda Hopson of Sherman, Pamela Camp and husband Fred, of Meunster, and Kathy Parker of Sherman; grandchildren: Donald Dawson and wife Melissa, of Kansas, Cory Dawson and wife Shawna, Sara Patterson, Jennifer Parker and Nicholas Upton and wife Kim, all of Texas; 12 great-grandchildren; sister, Dovie Mae Ott; and brother Linville Ray Davis. David was preceded in death by his daughter Wendy Upton of Tom Bean, Texas. Family visitation will be Thursday evening, March 13th from 6:00-7:00 p.m. at Dannel Funeral Home. Graveside services will be held at 2:00 Friday afternoon, March 14th, at Cedar Cemetery in Luella, TX, with Rev. John Fleming of Grace United Methodist Church, officiating.