Monday, July 13, 2009

Claud Albert Davis

Claud Albert Davis was born April 3, 1928 and departed this life on Friday, July 10, 2009. He was 81 years of age. He was preceded in death by his parents, Webster Edwin Davis & Lucy Viola Wells Barnes Davis; four brothers: Nelson, Earl, Jim Ed & Charles Davis: one sister, Inez Condra; and a son, Claud Nelson Davis. He is survived by his wife of 60 years, Vilene Martin Davis of the home; two sons: Bob and wife Debbie of Pocola and Gary and wife Sharon of North Little Rock, Arkansas; a daughter Carol Ann Ford and husband Lance of Heavener; four grandchildren: Adam and Barrett Davis of North Little Rock and Julianne and Nicholas Ford of Heavener; two sisters: Wilma Coffman of Fresno, California, and Mary Florence Morgan of Shady Point; one brother, George A. Davis of Pocola; numerous nieces and nephews, and a host of beloved friends. Claud was born in Pocola and lived here all of his life. He served as a member of the first Town Council when the City of Pocola was incorporated in the early 1960’s. He was a member of First Baptist Church, Pocola, and served there as deacon, Sunday School Director, choir member and songleader for many years. Claud graduated from high school in 1948 and played baseball and basketball. He married his high school sweetheart, Vilene Martin, in 1949. They had four children, and he was very proud of his family. He worked extremely hard to make sure all of his children could get a college education, and they all became teachers. Claud loved people. He always had a smile and the ability to make friends easily. He was wonderful at telling jokes and stories. He had many friends, and he always made time to visit with them, often standing for hours in his driveway or pasture. Claud farmed and raised cattle most of his life. He especially enjoyed buying used farm equipment to repair then trade or sell. He was a good businessman, and he operated Davis Farm Equipment out of his home after work and on the weekends. Claud retired in 1983 from Motive Parts Warehouse, where he worked for 32 years as a parts manager. Claud enjoyed music, especially country and gospel. He had a beautiful tenor voice and sang solos at his church. He always sang from the heart, and he loved to hear other people that sang that way also. Most of all, Claud loved his family. He was a devoted son, brother, father, and Papa. Despite living with Alzheimer’s Disease in his final years, he was still able to bring joy to all of us. The Davis family is especially grateful for all the friends and relatives who have expressed their concern through cards, flowers, phone calls, visits, and prayers. They would also like to thank the staffs of Pocola Nursing Center and Advantage Home Health and Hospice for taking such good care of Claud in his last months. Pallbearers will be Eddie Coleman, Jim Davis, Kevin Hesslen, Jimmy Dean Pipkins, Phil Smith, Larry Sockey, & grandsons, Adam & Barrett Davis Services will be held at 10:00 am Tuesday, July 14, 2009 at First Baptist Church of Pocola.

5 comments:

  1. Dear Davis Family,

    We want you to know we are thinking of you and you are in our prayers.
    Claud was always nice to me when I was a girl. I will always remember his sense of humor and quick wit.

    God Bless,
    Diana (Conrow) Norman

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  2. Patricia Pipkins OgdenJuly 14, 2009 at 8:55 AM

    The tribute in today's paper was so fitting and appropriate to Claud's life. Just know that we are thinking of you guys and will keep you in our prayers today and the days ahead. Love to all the family, Patricia Pipkins Ogden

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  3. Dear Davis Family,
    Our hearts are with you and this poem says it all:

    God saw you were getting tired,
    And a cure was not to be,
    So he put his arms around you
    And wispered,
    "Come with me",
    In tears we watched you suffer,
    And saw you fade away,
    And though we loved you dearly,
    We could not make you stay.
    A golden heart stopped beating,
    Hard working hands were put to rest,
    God broke our hearts to prove to us, HE ONLY TAKES THE BEST.
    Love Wilma & Family

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  4. Dear Family, Thanks to my Mom, Wilma Coffman, stories of their family life created such vivid mental pictures that I still feel like I knew Claud and all the Davis siblings as children as well as the adults I love and admire. As an adult, Claud always impressed me as a sincere soul whose faith and strong character people could count on. Toward the lighter side, I will carry in my heart the image of my uncle's twinkling eyes and closed-mouth smile that I recall in person as well as every photo I've seen of him. This look meant he was about to say something, and it was always worth hearing.
    Love and God bless you,
    Lynn Dee (Lysdahl) Smith
    Bakersfield CA
    heaven@lightspeed.net

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  5. That Poem Grandma Wilma posted is a wonderful way of expressing how we all feel at the loss of Uncle Claud. All the Davis Children are truly blessed souls and beautiful people, and it's sad that he had to leave. But we know he is in a better place now, and can cherish the memories we have of him. My prayers are with you all.
    Love ,
    Wilma's Granddaughter
    Daena Lysdahl

    ReplyDelete