Thomas Wayne Davis II

Thomas Wayne Davis II died on Thursday, January 2, 2025, at the age of 67. He was born on March 7, 1957, at the Madigan Army Hospital in Tacoma, Washington to Thomas Wayne Davis I and Florence Schrank (née Eddy).

Thomas spent most of his childhood in Brown Deer, Wisconsin. Thomas graduated from Brown Deer High School in 1975. He attained a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Finance from Marquette University in 1979. He continued on to law school at Marquette University, where he served on the Law Review and attained his Juris Doctor degree with honors in 1982. After graduating law school, he was admitted to the State Bars in both Wisconsin and Nevada and spent much of his time actively practicing law in Nevada.

While completing his bachelor’s degree, Thomas started dating Barbara Menne, who was also attending Marquette University. Following his law school graduation, Thomas proposed to Barbara, and they moved to Las Vegas, Nevada. The couple married on October 30, 1982. They proceeded to have four children: Allison (Bryan) Cannon, Thomas (Nina) Curvis, Lauren (Calvin) Benson, Jillian Davis (TJ Lozito).

Thomas started practicing law in Las Vegas, Nevada in 1982, working as an associate with the law firm of Galane & Jimmerson. Due to his incredible intelligence and work ethic, Thomas soon became a partner at the law firm of Jimmerson & Davis. He worked tirelessly and established a very successful career, with a focus on business and corporate law. He ultimately became a partner with the law firm of Howard & Howard, where he worked for more than 17 years, from 2007 until his passing.

Thomas had a passion for numerous worthy and charitable causes. He served as Chairman of the Nevada State Bar Consumer Protection Committee. He served on the Board of Directors, including as the position of past President, of the Family and Child Treatment Center of Southern Nevada. He also served on the Board of Directors for the Foundation for an Independent Tomorrow (FIT), an organization that provides job training, coaching and support.

Throughout his life, Thomas enjoyed exercising and playing sports. In high school, he was a letterman athlete in track, setting many school records at Brown Deer High School. Throughout college and his early life in Las Vegas, Thomas was a very active basketball player, participating in leagues and casual games where he defeated many opponents with his infamous “sky hook.” He also loved the sport of tennis, teaching it to all four of his children, and rarely missing the Wednesday night and Saturday morning matches with his friends. Finally, he was an avid golfer and had many friends who played with him regularly, but who were only permitted to drive the cart if they parked in the shade.

Thomas was also a fervent spectator of local sports teams. He had season tickets for practically every college, minor, and major league team that was based in Las Vegas from 1982 onward. The list of the local teams he supported includes, but is not limited to, the Runnin’ Rebels Men’s Football Team, the Runnin’ Rebels Men’s Basketball Team, the Stars, the Thunder, the 51s, the Dustdevils, the Wranglers, the Aviators, the Golden Knights, and the Raiders. He shared his love of sports with so many people in his life, including his wife, children, family, and friends. If he had tickets, he made sure to use them or he compelled someone else to use them so they didn’t go to waste.

In addition to local sports, Thomas was a diehard fan of Wisconsin sports teams, including the Green Bay Packers, the Milwaukee Brewers, and the Wisconsin Badgers. He attended many of those games when travelling back to visit family and friends in Wisconsin.

Thomas left a lasting impression on all who met him. He had a very endearing sense of humor and laugh. He was able to lighten the mood in any situation with his quick wit and quirky “rules.” He had incredible integrity; in both his professional and personal life he strived to treat everyone fairly. Truthfully and sincerely, his admirable qualities are too numerous to list. However, perhaps chief among these was his deep love for his wife and children, for whom he worked so hard to provide a wonderful life. Thomas will be dearly missed by his family, friends, co-workers, and colleagues.

In addition to his wife, Barbara, and his four children, Thomas is survived by his mother, Florence (née Eddy) Schrank; his siblings, Patricia Davis Szymczak, James (Vicki) Davis, Lisa Davis, and Paul (Arianne) Davis; and his four grandchildren, Jonas Benson, Emma Cannon, Arlo Benson, and Maisie Benson.

A Celebration of Life will take place at Palm Eastern Mortuary & Cemetery located at 7600 South Eastern Avenue in Las Vegas, Nevada on February 15, 2025, at 10:00 a.m.

In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made online to the Foundation for an Independent Tomorrow at https://www.lasvegasfit.org/support-fit/ or via mail to 1931 Stella Lake Street, Las Vegas, Nevada 89106-2142.