Obituary of Curtis Davis

Curtis Louis Davis, Sr. Funeral services for Curtis Louis Davis, Sr. of Elsberry, MO were held at 2:00 p.m. Sunday, June 1, 2003 at Carter-Ricks Funeral Home in Elsberry. Rev. Jim Skinner, pastor of the Silex Assembly of God Church, and Rev. Raymond Doussard, Chaplin for AmHeart Hospice, officiated with burial in New Hope Cemetery near Elsberry. Serving as pallbearers were Christopher Davis, Kevin Davis, Sid Baker, Jim Ross, Dennis Watkins, and Jeremy Barron. Mr. Davis, 71, died early Wednesday morning, May 28, 2003 at his home near Elsberry. Born May 4, 1932 in Lincoln County, MO, he was the son of the late Grayden O. and Hazel A. Skinner Davis. A veteran of the Korean Conflict, he served his country in the U.S. Army from December 11, 1952 until October 20, 1954. He was awarded the Korean Service Medal with one Bronze Service Star, the ROK Presidential Unit Citation, the United Nations Service Medal, the National Defense Service Medal and a Good Conduct Medal. He was united in marriage on June 2, 1956 in Elsberry to Joyce Ann Hartigan. He was employed as a sheet metal riveter at McDonnell-Douglas Aircraft from December 26, 1956 until he retired on August 31, 1988. He was a member of the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers, Local #837 in St. Louis. He was also a lifetime member of the VFW Post #9064 and the American Legion Post #226 in Elsberry. Besides his parents, he was preceded in death by two brothers: Tommy Davis in 1955 and Clifford Davis in January, 2003. Survivors include his beloved wife of almost 43 years, Joyce Davis of Elsberry; two sons: Curtis Louis Davis, Jr. and his wife, Rosa, of Houston, TX, and Richard Okla Davis of Elsberry; two daughters: Catherine Carol Grist of Sugarland, TX, and Debra Ann Semon and her husband, Ron, of Waukesha, WI; seven grandchildren: Christopher and Kevin Davis, Katy and Kelly Semon, Scott Grist, and Ethan and Jonathan Davis. He also leaves one brother, DeeMory "Pigtail" Davis and his wife, Jeannette, of Elsberry; two sisters-in-law, Pauline Davis of Elsberry, and Carol Watkins and her husband, Bennie, also of Elsberry; several nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends. Visitation was held from 4:00 - 8:00 p.m. Saturday, May 31, 2003 at Carter-Ricks Funeral Home in Elsberry. Memorials may be made to AmHeart Hospice or to the American Cancer Society, in care of Carter-Ricks Funeral Home, 107 South Fifth Street, Elsberry, MO 63343.