Beautiful in Blue was purchased for the family of William W. Davies.

TERRANCE L. purchased a sympathy card for the family of William Wilcox Davies.

Bill (Billy to me) lived in the white corner house at Newland and Delaware, nextdoor to my parents' house in Jamestown, NY.  I met Billy in 1954 when my parents and I moved from Barrett Avenue to Delaware Avenue; that's how long ago we're talking about. 

He and I played together a lot. We'd play, then we'd fight, then we'd play, then we'd fight...I think we were both bipolar...alternately as tight as the Three Musketeers and then in an instant at each other's throats. 
 
I'd say, "Billy, cut it out!" and with a taunting smile he'd answer, "If you paste it in!" And then, on the very same day, we'd camp overnight in our backyard in my two-man mountain tent. Drove my mother bonkers to see us go through those cycles. But through it all, he and I always knew we were great friends to the core.
 
One summer, we took my battery-powered intercom set, lengthened the transmission cable, and ran it from my second floor bathroom to his. Billy and I spent a lot of time on that intercom, pretending all the kinds of things that young boys pretend. We would sit on our respective bathroom floors and talk to each other, piloting planes around the world, being cops or robbers, fighting wars, or playing taxi (dispatcher and driver). We could have just hollered crosslots, but the intercom was a lot more fun, and nobody could hear us. We'd talk about kids and happenings all over the neighborhood...and nobody knew but Billy and me! We had party line telephones back then, so the only place to have a truly private conversation was on our intercom. Very cool. 
 
At JHS, we began growing apart slowly. He moved toward the technical/scientific arena, while I stayed with academic/college prep. And we each attracted a new and very different circle of friends, kids with more in common than just living in the same neighborhood. 
 
The college years marked the gradual end of our relationship. Billy went to College of Emporia in Kansas; I went to Syracuse. Billy and I would see each other during summer vacations, but the old boyhood chumminess was gone...we'd entered our own separate worlds, and we were no longer part of each other's. 
 
Years later, we friended each other on Facebook and followed each other online, but we never got together again. 

Billy's passing saddens me. We were close, and influenced each other in many ways during our "growing up years." I feel like I saw him just yesterday...and now, I never will, again. 

Good night, Billy. Your valiant fight against cancer is over. May you rest peacefully forever.

Love and farewell,

Terry Lanning
Neighbor, playmate, and friend

Peaceful White Lilies Basket was purchased for the family of William W. Davies.

I was fortunate to be a neighbor of Bills.  I would see him out back enjoying nature and the peaceful view from his porch.  Bill was so knowledgeable, I could always count on him to offer advice whether it be with computer, homeowner information, or just a laugh.  He was truly a good person, husband, father, grandfather, and neighbor.  He will be missed.

OBITUARY

William Wilcox Davies

15 July, 1947 – 8 January, 2019

Schoedinger Midtown

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