GENTRY — Richard Loren Davis, 99, of Gentry, died Nov. 29, 2017, in Siloam Springs.
He was born Oct. 6, 1918, in Gentry, to William Key Davis and Vida Fenton Smith Davis. He married Doris Davis on Dec. 12, 1941, in Sayer, Okla. The couple made its first home in Tulsa, Okla., and he worked as a welder manufacturing large oil storage tanks. In the spring of 1942, he joined the Army Air Core as a plane mechanic and served during World War II. After his discharge, he and Doris lived on a farm outside of Yale, Okla., where they farmed dairy, crops, beef and poultry while managing a local feed mill and wheat buying station. The couple sold the farm in 1967 and moved to Joplin, Mo., to become dorm parents at Ozark Christian College. In Joplin, he started a construction business specializing in restoring and remodeling older model homes. In 1979, the couple retired and moved to the farm where he had grown up, outside of Gentry. He enjoyed gardening, caring for the land and beekeeping. They were active members of First Christian Church in Gentry. They celebrated 75 years of marriage in December 2016.
He was preceded in death by his wife; five siblings, Merrill Davis, Linton Davis, Ethel Davis, Catherine Davis, and Harold Davis; one daughter-in-law, Kathleen Davis; and one son-in-law, Dennis Murray.
He is survived by five children, John Davis and wife Carol of San Marcos, Texas, Karen Davis Rees and husband Ben of Hong Kong, China, Mark Davis and wife Arlene of Gentry, Tim Davis of Yale, and Anne Davis Murray of Choctaw, Okla.; 10 grandchildren; 22 great-grandchildren; and one great-great-grandchild.
A memorial service to celebrate his life will be held Saturday, Jan. 6, at 2 p.m., at the First Christian Church in Gentry, Arkansas. Arrangements are by Wasson Funeral Home, Siloam Springs, Arkansas.