Wayne Anthony Davis

Wayne was born on September 23, 1943 in Brady, Texas to Bee Anthony and Dorothy Watkins Davis. He treasured the simplicity of growing up in small town West Texas. Wayne had a strong work ethic from moment one. He joined the workforce at the young age of 13 as an assistant to the delivery driver for Borden’s Milk. He graduated in 1962 from Reagan County High School in Big Lake, Texas. Wayne spent his high school years as a friend to all, earning the honor of Best All Around his senior year. He ran track, played basketball and lettered in football, which was his absolute favorite.

Wayne earned his Bachelor of Science degree in Pharmacy at Southwestern Oklahoma State University in Weatherford, Oklahoma in 1968. He began his many years of service as a pharmacist at Skaggs Drugstore in Wichita, Kansas. It was in Wichita where he met the love of his life, Karen Hammerschmidt, with whom he enjoyed 44 happily married years. Wayne and Karen relocated to Nacogdoches, Texas soon after purchasing their first pharmacy located in the Medical & Surgical Building, M & S Pharmacy. This purchase was the first of many purchases and acquisitions fulfilling his dream of being “everybody’s hometown pharmacy.” He spent almost 40 years working as a pharmacist, going above and beyond, and always putting his customers first. It wasn’t unusual for him to meet someone late at night who needed an emergency prescription filled.

Outside of the pharmacy, Wayne spent much of his time giving back to the town he loved. Not only was he a man of faith and a strong supporter of Sacred Heart Catholic Church, he also passionately believed in service. He served on a multitude of boards including Crime Stoppers of Nacogdoches, Commercial Bank, United Way, SFA Foundation, Lumberjack Booster Club and The Boys and Girls Clubs of Deep East Texas. Wayne was an enthusiastic supporter of SFA Athletics, and you could often find him at any home game he could catch. Serving his community was second nature to him – whether as a pharmacist, giving his time as a board member or helping someone in need.

Wayne adored his family. Sunday nights were often spent at his mother’s house for family dinner. His two girls, Jana and Sara, were his pride and joy. He spent much of his time attending their various performances and trying to embarrass them in front of their friends. Pets were always important to Wayne. You could often find him in his chair with one or two in his lap. He loved being “Pop” to his three grandsons often telling them stories about “when I was a kid” or cheering them on at their various sporting events. Above all, Karen was his rock and his best friend. She was the sparkle in his eye.

Wayne is preceded in death by his daughter, Sara Deanne Davis; his parents, Bee and Dorothy Davis; his in-laws, Lawrence and Rose Hammerschmidt.

He is survived by his loving wife, Karen Hammerschmidt Davis; his daughter, Jana Fleming and her husband, Gray and their three boys, Watson, Davis and Hughes.

In lieu of flowers, memorials can be made to the Boys and Girls Clubs of Deep East Texas, P.O. Box 631345, Nacogdoches, Texas 75963 www.bgcdet.org; to The Karen and Wayne Davis Fellowship, Stephen F. Austin State University Office of Development, P.O. Box 6092 – SFA Station, Nacogdoches, Texas 75962 www.sfasu.edu/give; or to the charity of your choice.

Due to current health concerns, private services are being held by the family. The family has invited everybody to join via livestream on Cason Monk-Metcalf's Facebook page shortly before 2:00 p.m. Tuesday, February 2, 2021.

Wayne Anthony Davis Eulogy

Written and shared by Gray Fleming

I have identified with a specific regret over the past few days. To find regret after someone leaves is normal – typically something you wish you would have said or done. This regret: however, seems to be different because during my preparation to eulogize my father-in-law I realized something about him that was always right there in front of my face. I spent time either miss characterizing it or missing it altogether. Wayne Anthony Davis was an uncomplicator.

There is likely a Periodic table, Pharmacist joke in here somewhere but in all seriousness if I could promise to emulate one thing from Wayne it would be to make things uncomplicated (no one would be happier than Jana if I could pull that off, trust me).

It is said that “making things simple is a translators work” – now if you have ever had the experience of spending time with Wayne in Cabo San Lucas, you immediately know that I am not referring to literal language translation. He always seemed to feel that if he raised his eyebrows, leaned in with a smile and said “Dos Equis” with a different Spanish stress of the syllables, the person to which he was speaking would understand him better. I am referring to the translation of the common but so difficult language of life. The more I thought about it, I was able to identify with why he was able to do this. Wayne was the greatest uncomplicator I know because he had the utmost Clarity of Purpose: To Provide.

Wayne played many roles in all of our lives: Husband, Father, Pharmacist, Grandfather, Mentor, Leader, Friend, to name a few – and in I know in my heart that if Wayne wasn’t providing, he wasn’t succeeding.

Jana and Karen wrote an obituary early this week that did Wayne justice – not an easy thing to do. What I read in that obituary was this that above all Wayne provided. He provided for his mother Dorothy, Karen, Jana, Sara, me, Watson, Davis, Hughes, M&S Pharmacy, Stephen F. Austin State University, Commercial Bank, The United Way and maybe none more so than The Boys and Girls Clubs of Deep East Texas – and that’s just to name a few.

Albert Einstein once said, “Smart people simplify things.”

I always knew Wayne was smart, I just didn’t give it the appreciation I should have during his time with us. Wayne spent every day of his entire life with one very simple, clear purpose: To Provide.

The origin of the name “Wayne” is English and derives from the name “Wainwright” which means “wagon builder.” I doubt I will get one argument from an East Texas room about what the “uncomplicated invention known as the wagon provided for the history of mankind. From the time Wayne left Oklahoma with a Pharmacy degree, the Provider was relentlessly building his Wagon. I speak for every single one of us when I say I am extremely proud to be in that Wagon.

The origin of the name “Pop” is Waco, Texas and derives from Wayne himself. Pop made sure for that term to mean whatever you needed or wanted it to mean. During the “Pop” years, he was less the driver of the Wagon and more the observer. Like a man who found peace in the fact that he had accomplished his clarity of Purpose.

I encourage you to remember that peace with a quote from one of his favorite authors, Louis L’Amour:

The one law that does not change is that everything changes, and the hardship I was bearing today was only a breath away from the pleasures I would have tomorrow, and those pleasures would be all the richer because of the memories of this I was enduring.

Wayne really never asked for anything from anyone (well, maybe Karen a time or three) – so it might seem ironic for me to ask something of you, but I think you will understand from where I am coming. Strive to be uncomplicated, strive to provide – whether you called him Wayne or Pop, it’s what he would have wanted.

The meaning of the name Davis, a derivative of David, is “the beloved.”

PSALM 65:9

You visit the earth and cause it to overflow;

You greatly enrich it;

The stream of God is full of water;

You prepare their grain, for thus You prepare the earth.

And so I thank God for the gift of the provisions Wayne gave us, so that we could carry on without him. While his Wagon has one less person in it, we know whose spirit carries us on. Thank you, Pop, for all that you provided for us, we will take it from here.”