Laurence M Davis
Salem
1919 - 2009
Laurence M Davis of Salem, Utah passed away on his 90th Birthday, despite having replaced both hips, both knees, and every valve in his heart. We called him the Bionic Man. He was born on November 17, 1919 in Salem, Utah to Frank Merrin and Beatrice Cloward Davis. He grew up as a farm boy working beside his Dad, and when it came time to be baptized into the LDS Church, they did it in Salem Pond. He attended school in Salem through the 9th Grade and graduated from Spanish Fork High School. He attended both Utah State and Brigham Young Universities. He continued to farm all through his life, but worked at the U & I Sugar Factory, Ironton, and retired from Geneva Steel. He was a veteran of the United States Army serving during World War II, and was a proud member of the American Legion for 65 years. In 1945 he married his sweetheart, Velma McKean, on May 15th in the Manti Temple and they had a devoted and loving relationship until she died in 1986. Being the lucky man he was, he found his second sweetheart and married Helen Hawkins Jones on July 11, 1987.
Laurence was a neat, clean, meticulous man that insisted on a bath, shave, and to be “slicked up” every day of his life, right to the end. He kept his home, yard, and farm the same way, and always had the best crops in Salem. He was an avid outdoorsman and loved to hunt and fish and spend time in his trailer camping, especially at Otter Creek. He was also an athlete, and loved to play baseball and softball, and was on a number of championship teams in his younger days. His love of sports never left him, but as time passed, he settled in as an armchair athlete and big-time fan of BYU, Utah Jazz, and any other sport that was on TV. When it became too difficult to ride his horse, he got himself a red scooter and could be seen all over Salem checking out his farm ground and visiting friends. He and Helen were regulars on the Senior Citizen tours and saw the United States and the world together. He was a High Priest in the LDS Church and served in many callings throughout his life. He was an extremely kind and generous man, and in addition to a lifetime of devotion to his only son, Larry and his family, he welcomed Helen’s family with open arms and was a tremendous Step-Father and Grampa to the Jones side.
Laurence is survived by his wife, Helen, and his only child and son, Larry (Sherry) Davis, five grandchildren and five great-granchildren, and his sweet sister, Virginia Evans.
He is also survived by Helen’s five children, JoAnn (Merrill) Binks, Terry (Fran) Jones, Paula (Dave) Densley, J. Lynn (Gayleen) Jones, and Julie (Glen) Cole, sixteen grandchildren, and twenty-five great-grandchildren, who all loved him dearly.
He was preceded in death by his parents, his first wife, Velma, a baby son, Roger, and a step-grandson, Austin Lloyd, and step-great-grandson Kaige Beckstrom.
The family would like to publicly thank the special care given Laurence at Beehive House in Salem and Parkway Care Center in Payson. They would also like to thank Hospice of Utah, especially Jacquelynn, Cleston, and Gaylen.
Funeral services will be held Saturday, November 21, 2009 at 1:00 p.m. at the Salem First Ward Chapel, 60 S. Main Street, Salem, Utah. Family and friends may call Friday evening, November 20, 2009 from 6:00-8:00 p.m. at Walker Mortuary, 187 South Main Street, Spanish Fork, or Saturday morning at the church from 11:45 am. until 12:45 p.m. prior to services. Interment will be in the Salem City Cemetery.
|
|
Listing provided by: 
|
Visitation - Show info
Visitation
Friday, November 20 2009
6:00 - 8:00 PM
Walker Mortuary - Spanish Fork
|
|
187 S Main Street
Spanish Fork, UT 84660
801-798-2169
Services - Show info
Services
Saturday, November 21 2009
1:00 PM
Salem 1st, 2nd and 9th Ward Chapel
60 S Main St
Salem, UT
|
Powered by; 
|
© 2007 - 2010. All rights reserved. |
