Sara Sue Davis

GRAPEVINE, TX – Sara Sue Davis, age 80, passed from this earthly life on December 14, 2020 after a long illness. Sara was a resident of Grand Brook Memory Care of Grapevine at the time of her death but lived the majority of her life in Denison. Born August 17, 1940 in San Antonio, Texas, Sara was adopted at the tender age of six weeks by Mr. and Mrs. Raymond Haralson of Whitesboro, Texas, their much loved only child. Sara graduated as the salutatorian of her class of Whitesboro High School and attended North Texas State University in Denton (now the University of North Texas), earning her Bachelor’s Degree in Secondary Education. Graduating early from college, Sara immediately began a teaching career of high school mathematics in San Angelo, Texas. She had already been introduced to her future husband, Osburn “Ozzie” W. Davis, Jr., as a college student, and their long-distance courtship continued through mailed handwritten letters for a few months. Sara and Ozzie married when she was 22 and they moved to Denison at that time to begin their life together. They remained inseparable for the next 55 years until Ozzie’s death in November 2017, with a shared foundation of faith, family, home, and simple pleasures.

Sara taught mathematics at both Sherman and Denison High Schools, but after a few years decided to leave teaching to focus on raising her family. Being a young mother was her greatest joy, and some of her children’s fondest memories of her were the wonderful family meals together around the kitchen table almost daily for 20 years, the innumerable basketball and baseball practices and games she attended without fail, summer fun on Lake Texoma (where Sara taught Ozzie to swim), working jigsaw, word, and crossword puzzles for decades, becoming an avid Texas Rangers and Dallas Mavericks fan once she and Ozzie were empty-nesters, sewing clothes and the baby blankets she often gifted, and later, enjoying days playing in the park and the backyard with her granddaughters. Sara enjoyed working several clerical and retail jobs, but her favorite employment was serving as church secretary three different terms. She was a lifelong member of the First Christian Church from childhood. Sara also devoted over 10,000 hours of volunteer service at Texoma Medical Center and Reba’s Ranch House. She considered it her personal ministry to comfort those in time of need by sending greeting cards and written notes of encouragement throughout her lifetime.

Sara was a survivor in every sense of the word. After being diagnosed with and surviving breast cancer in 1992, she was later diagnosed with leukemia in 1997, spending almost 300 days in the hospital that year. Sara managed to beat the odds, and returned home to a happy life. She subsequently battled diabetes, a stroke, shingles on the brain, heart attack, facial trauma from a serious fall, COVID-19, and ultimately, the progressive dementia that took her life after years of decline. Through all the hardship, Sara defied the odds time after time and provided an extraordinary lesson that miracles are possible even when least expected.

Sara was preceded in death by her parents and her husband of 55 years, Osburn Davis. She is survived by daughter Michelle Davis of Albuquerque, NM; son Phil Davis and his wife Becky of Colleyville, TX; and granddaughters Abby and Madeline Davis. Private burial will be held at Oakwood Cemetery in Whitesboro, TX. Flowers may be sent to the family at 2107 Ballantrae Dr, Colleyville, TX 76034, or in lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to the First Christian Church of Denison or the Muscular Dystrophy Association. The family wishes to extend thanks for the wonderful care and compassion Sara received from the Grand Brook Memory Care of Grapevine staff and the Anchors of Hope Hospice Care staff in the last few years of her life.

The funeral arrangements have been entrusted with Bratcher Funeral Home, and at this time no services are scheduled.

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