Cecil Larry Davis

Cecil) Larry Davis, age 77, of Haltom City, Texas, crossed the Great Divide and entered God’s majestic kingdom, on July 2, 2023, after a long and courageous battle with cancer. Larry lives on in the hearts and minds of all who loved him and now joins those beloved souls who went ahead to wait for him; “For this world is not our home; we are looking forward to our everlasting home in heaven.” Hebrews 13:14

Larry was born on December 11, 1945, in Okeene, Oklahoma to Cecil Henry Davis and Frances Pauline (Gaines) Davis. After graduating from Wichita Falls High School in 1965, he pursued a lifetime career in civil engineering field work in multiple Texas city governments. He started out in Wichita Falls, then went to Hurst. Larry spent the last 25 years of his career as a construction inspector at the City of Coppell before retiring on December 13, 2014.

In his earlier years, Larry spent summers working as a camp counselor and wrangler at Philmont Scout Camp in Cimarron, New Mexico. He loved the great outdoors and was most comfortable sitting around a campfire or on the edge of a lake fishing. The great author Henry David Thoreau once wrote, "Many men go fishing all of their lives without knowing that it is not fish they are after." Thoreau's quote is trying to express that in life we sometimes try so hard to accomplish things that we tend to forget what we are really after is happiness. Larry was happy and never lost hope that he would make a trip to spend time in Oklahoma with his beloved sister Kay, and devoted son, Kelly.

He also spent hours caving and spelunking. He was an explorer and lifelong learner. He enjoyed many friends made in a Ham Radio Club that brought people, technology, and communication together. Larry loved smoking his pipes and had extremely diverse interests including history, the classics, art, music, and drama. He never met a stranger, and he could talk about anything. Larry spent hours arranging luncheons and get togethers, making sure his former colleagues and friends from Coppell never lost touch with one another.

Larry was a devoted father, son, and brother. There was nothing he wouldn’t do for anyone, especially his family. Kelly remembers “…being seven watching TV and using his arm as a pillow until he had no feeling in his arm…him mowing the yard on Ray Road and Freckles rolled up … my first dog…standing up in the front seat of his truck…he would only sing Beach Boys songs…(Larry) throwing a mattress on top of me and my sister and laying on top of it to save our lives in a tornado.” Larry also cared for his mother, moving into her home to help her until she needed more care than he and his sister Kay could provide. When their mother passed, Larry was Kay’s whole world. Deeply devoted to her, he left no stone unturned to make life as wonderful as possible for his sister. She has very fond memories of all the time they spent together. This kind, generous, loyal, forgiving, and faithful man will long be remembered for selflessness and sacrifice. Robert Green Ingersoll wrote, “A great man does not seek applause or place; he seeks for truth; he seeks the road to happiness, and what he ascertains, he gives to others.” Larry is where he worked his entire life to be; he is at peace and just a thought way. God bless you, Larry, we will see you on the other side.

Larry was predeceased in death by his father, Cecil Henry Davis, and his mother Frances Pauline (Gaines) Davis. He leaves behind his son, Kelly Davis and his daughter, Bailey; his daughter Keri Stark, her husband Jason, daughter Lexi and son Vinny, his sister Kay Partridge, and his former wife and mother of his children, Karen Russell.

A small graveside service will be held on Thursday, July 20 at 10:00 A.M at Hampton Vaughan Crestview Funeral Home and Memorial Park, 1917 Archer City Hwy, in Wichita Falls, Texas. Please visit www.dignitymemorial.com to send flowers or post a memory.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.hamptonvaughancrestview.com for the Davis family.