William Henry Davis was born on August 24th, 1953 to Jackie and Mary Davis. He passed from this life to spend eternity with his creator on January 21st, 2022 at 68 years of age. He was preceded in death by his brother, Donald Davis, and his parents Jackie and Mary Davis. He is survived by his wife of 47 years, Lois Inez Davis, son Chris (Britney), daughter Stephanie Johnson, granddaughters Kayla, Hailey, and Bella as well as trusted family members and friends.
Billy valued his role as a family leader and took great pride in hosting family events including fish fries and cookouts. He was the self-proclaimed steak connoisseur, as well as a rib enthusiast. He loved to watch people enjoy the food he prepared. He loved to laugh, make jokes, and quote endless movie lines. He had a vast collection of movies and baseball cards. He was quite the master when trading baseball cards and entering negotiations. Another of his favorite past-times was to discuss old and new movies and how nobody was as good as John Wayne.
Although Bill enjoyed his family gatherings immensely, he loved nothing more than spending time with Lois, his wife of 47 years. Throughout the 47 years, their marriage was a strong partnership. They spent countless hours watching British Crime Mysteries and westerns, especially those featuring John Wayne. As a couple, they enjoyed playing cards and hosting their friends for what their granddaughters called “old people parties”. They spent time antiquing and received an invite to the “Antique Road Show”. It was a common sight for passersby to see the two working together in the yard on the flowers, plants, and lawn decorations. The last decade of their marriage was spent enjoying retirement together. They honored the commitments throughout their marriage that were spoken on July 26, 1974.
Billy was a dedicated father. He enjoyed attending both Chris’ and Stephanie’s activities and basketball games, often traveling across state lines. He not only attended numerous games but was an active participant in many backyard basketball and Wiffle ball games. He loved spending countless hours fishing on the creek and river with his son and friends.
An important part of Billy’s life involved the church that he attended from his youth. He served an active role in the church and was a vital part of its daily operation. His weekly visits with Danny at the church were always a highlight of his week. His desire to daily walk with Christ guided his decision-making and was noticed by all that he met. He was beloved by his family, his church, and his community. His presence will be greatly missed.
Services are entrusted to Willis Funeral Service of Batesville. Newark Church of Christ will host a visitation on Sunday, January 23, 2022, from 3 PM until 5 PM. There will be a graveside service at Blue Springs Cemetery in Newark on Tuesday, January 25, 2022, at 2 PM.
The family would like to recognize the following persons as honorary pallbearers: Ronnie Brooks, Wayne Green, Kendall Rutledge, Bobby Hawkins, Jeff Rutledge, Danny Stephens, Troy Clark, Charlie Jarrett, Gary Campbell, Rick Mobley, Adam Fudge
