Henry Morgan Davis, 73, of Powderly passed away Friday, March 8, 2013 at his residence, after his courageous two year battle with lung cancer. He is remembered as a loving husband, father, and friend.
He was born on July 10, 1939 in San Mateo, California a son of Thomas N. and Etta Inez Terry Davis. Henry graduated from Central High School earning a basketball scholarship to Paris Junior College. He attended East Texas State University, a member of Sigma Phi Epsilon fraternity, and earned master’s degrees in Math, History, and Education. Henry was a past member of Paris Golf and Country Club, Pine Ridge, Boy’s Club and TSTA Transportation Reg. VIII Service Center. Henry also served in the Texas National Guard He was of the Baptist faith.
Mr. Davis began his teaching career in 1965 at Detroit School as coach, Kopperl, and Ferris Districts. He was a coach and principal at West Lamar and held the position of superintendent at Chicota. Mr. Davis retired in 1986 as assistant superintendent at North Lamar and head of transportation. He taught drivers education, defensive driving and bus driving school for 20 years. He also was athletic director at Clayton, Oklahoma and taught at Grant, Oklahoma. He refereed basketball games and umpired baseball games all over Lamar County. Mr. Davis also coached Little League Baseball, Pony League Baseball and Pee Wee Football.
He is survived by his spouse Margie Blaine Davis whom he married on February 4, 1966 in Paris Junior College Chapel. Also surviving are his children Steven Davis, Stephanie Sanders and husband Kelly, and Stacie Davis and her fiancee` Adam Bruckhoff and granddaughter Bailee Sanders, and grandson Blake Davis. He was preceded in death by brothers Thomas Davis and Jerry Davis.
Graveside services will be conducted at 2:00 P.M. Tuesday, March 12, 2013 in the Hopewell Cemetery with Rev. James Eddie Cheatham officiating. Family will receive friends at the Sanders residence at 5705 Old Clarksville Rd., Reno, Texas Monday evening from 6:00 P.M. till 8:00 P.M. Pallbearers will be Bobby Slagle, Jace Carrington, Leslie Towers, Terry Jordan, Mike Newsom, and Adam Bruckhoff. Honorary pallbearers will be Denny Hines, Hen Phan, Ronnie Terry, Porter Griggs, Butch Smith, Blaine Moore, and all Henry’s former students and athletes. Services are under the direction of the Fry-Gibbs Funeral Home where online condolences maybe made by visiting www.fry-gibbs.com.
Donations may be made in his name to an account that has been set up at First Federal Community Bank in Paris to help defer medical expenses.
Jack Dale Shepard, 81, of Paris, died at Medical City of Dallas, Sunday, March 10, 2013. Funeral services are set for 1:00 PM, Wednesday, March 13, 2013 in the chapel of Fry & Gibbs Funeral Home with Rev. Glynn Vickers officiating. Burial will follow in Meadowbrook Gardens Cemetery. The family will receive friends from 12:30 PM until service time prior to the service on Wednesday. Fry & Gibbs Funeral Home has charge of the arrangements.
Jack was born June 8, 1931 in Wellington, Texas to States Coleman and Lola McClure Shepard. He married Myra Ford in the Faulkner Methodist Church on July 12, 1953. Mr. Shepard worked for Grand Auto Parts for many years and retired after 17 years from the security department at St. Joseph’s Hospital. He was a member of First United Methodist Church and served in the United States Army National Guard.
Mr. Shepard is survived by his wife, Myra Shepard; one daughter, Diana Kay Jordan and fiancée, Leslie Green; one granddaughter, Bryana Paige Latham and husband, Ricky; and one great-granddaughter, Jayden Paige Latham. He was preceded in death by four brothers, Roland, John, Lee, and Billy Shepard as well as two infant brothers.
Pallbearers will be Larry Dean Shepard, Ricky Latham, Buddy Heuberger, Leslie Jordan, Leslie Green, and David Rutherford.
Online condolences may be made to the Shepard family by visiting www.fry-gibbs.com.