Bill Davis

Bill passed away peacefully in his sleep on Friday, August 15, in his little cabin in the foothills of the Ozarks that he shared with his wife, Donna. It was his happy place. He left this earthly life in the best way possible…in his sleep in the place he loved so much. That is a blessing and gift.

Bill lived a life built with his hands and his heart. A true craftsman, he could turn wood, steel, or just about anything into something beautiful. If it could be made, Bill figured out how. In his earlier years, he raced motocross and flat track. During the summers, he played softball.

He and Donna were married on August 5, 1981. They exchanged vows in the century-old church in Tin Cup, Colorado. They rode away from the ceremony on his dirt bike with Coors cans attached behind because Bill was just that kinda guy. He wore his classic Levi 517’s tucked into his flat track boots and his finest plaid flannel shirt for the occasion.

By his 30s, Bill found his true gift. He learned to build mandolins, then guitars and banjos. He built only one banjo because…banjos! His love of the art of building was evident in the instruments he created. The music community that came with his love of building instruments were his people. His closest friends. He loved the Walnut Valley Festival in Winfield, Kansas, where he spent time each year with his fest family playing music and watching his wife, her comrades (you know who you are!) and the shenanigans they loved to get into. Always the problem solver, he built a portable barn wood shower for his camp with a dressing area and shower area, water heater and a sink with a mirror. The roof was removable, so you could shower under the stars. It was the perfect end of a hot dusty day.

Bill is survived by his wife of 44 years, Donna Davis, as well as his daughters, Laura Davis, Rhiannon Zerbe (spouse Catina), grandchildren, Madeline Goering (Tyler), Keegan Davis-Whitney, Azlyn Kutz, great-daughter Eleanor Goering and his sister Gale Walding (Keith) He also leaves behind countless friends, fellow pickers, and anyone fortunate enough to have learned from or have sat with him in conversation or song.

We hope to have a Celebration of Life for Bill at Greenleaf State Park in April of 2026 to honor his life. Friends and family will gather to share stories, pick a tune or two, and remember him the way he’d like best. Details will be announced at a later date.

Bill’s legacy is simple and strong: craftsmanship, music, and the reminder that a quiet, good life is measured not in years, but in what you build and share along the way.