LAWRENCE RAY DAVIS
(Lawrence) Ray Davis passed away on Saturday, Nov. 16, 2024, and was reunited with his beloved “Myrna Lou” to continue their life together. Ray was born on Aug. 13, 1932, in Heiskell.
Dad was a man of many talents and could do absolutely anything. His first “career” was making and running moonshine with his uncle. Being the storyteller he was, this profession was a source of many stories and much teasing from the family through the years. His moonshining career continued into his years in the Navy in which he proudly served from 195155 during the Korean War.
After his military service, Ray worked at Magnet Mills and partnered with his father in their well-drilling business. When Magnet Mills closed, he continued well-drilling before joining Union Carbide at the Oak Ridge X-10 site and later K-25, where he spent most of his career until his retirement.
In addition to all of the above, Dad was a paint and body man, a licensed electrician, a plumber, and a car-
penter, and had a multitude of other talents. He could build or fix anything that needed to be done.
Dad loved his Lord as well as his family. Being a man of deep faith, he looked forward to seeing those who had gone before him, including his wife Lou Davis; his parents, John Ott and Daisy Pearl (Waldrop) Davis; inlaws, Charlie and Ester (Turnbill) Viles; son, Teddy Davis; granddaughter, Kayla Brown; great-granddaughters, Madison and Gracie Brown; sister and brother-in-law, Ramona and Kyle Rutherford; and infant sister, Wanda Davis.
He is survived by his daughter, Kathy Stair; sonin-law, Eddie Stair; number one favorite granddaughter, Stephanie Stair; other number one favorite granddaughter (still hotly debated topic between the girls!) Holly Duren (Matt); great-grandsons, Cooper Duren, Sam Page, and Giovanni Brown; and great-granddaughter, Arianna Brown.
The family extends heartfelt thanks to Dad’s nurse, Melissa, and his caregiver, Brandy. “Ladies, you have no idea how grateful we are to you both for the care and love you showed toward dad over the last few months.”
The funeral with military honors was held graveside at Norris Memorial Gardens at 2 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 21, 2024. A procession departed Holley-Gamble Funeral Home at 1:30 p.m.
holleygamble.com.
