Mr. Gary Wayne Davis

Gary Wayne Davis, 68, of Dewey, OK, went to his eternal home Thursday, on the wings of angels. Gary Wayne Davis was born February 1, 1946, in Cordell, Oklahoma, to Thurman and Erna (Pankratz) Davis. He spent his youth in Clinton, OK, graduating from Clinton High School in 1964. Gary attended Southwestern Oklahoma State University in nearby Weatherford, OK, and completed a bachelor of science degree in chemistry. Gary went on to do graduate school work in biochemistry at Oklahoma State University in Stillwater, OK. In 1969, Gary moved to Olathe, Kansas, to prepare for a call to the Nazarene ministry at Mid-American Nazarene College. While there, Gary met his future wife Brenda Fay Wedding and they married August 15, 1970. They spent 10 years pastoring in three of the four Oklahoma districts of the Nazarene church, including churches in Tulsa, Ponca City and Hugo. In 1980, the Davis family, now with three young boys, moved to Dewey. Gary would work the next 28 years as a medical technologist at the Jane Phillips Medical laboratory. While he took his work and his service to patients very seriously, Gary was always clear about what was most important to him - his personal faith and his most precious family. In his personal words: “What means the most to me? What makes life worth living?” “First, I leave behind my loving wife of 44 years, Brenda, who still tells me often that she loves me. After all this passage of time, I’ve never comprehended why, but count myself fortunate that she gave me a chance to have a marriage and be a father.” “Second, I leave behind four grown children of exceptional character whose conduct makes me proud to be their dad. I take no credit for the people they have become. They were just good kids and had a great mom, good teachers, pastors and church people around. I don’t have a wad of impressive degrees behind my name, not much to show for 68 years on this earth. But I bask in the accomplishments of my four children Carter, Grayson, Jeremy and Summer.” “Third, I leave behind four individuals some might call in-laws. I do not. They are my children’s life partners: Jacqueline (Soh) Davis, Lisa (Nye) Davis, Crystal (Ruggles) Davis, and Gabe Bostick. How easy it was to take each of them in turn into our family circle. How each of you has enriched our lives.” “Fourth, I leave behind 11 grandchildren! Austin, Amrose, Emma, Sadie, Jonathan, Levi, Braeden, Liam, Elijah, Rachel and Caleb – what promise lies in this group can only be imagined at this point. The future is bright!” “Fifth, I leave behind my mother Erna (Pankratz) Davis of Clinton, whose prayers and Christian influence have established me in the Christian faith. Also, my two brothers Lyndon Ray and wife Terri of Cordell, OK, and Randall Eugene Davis of Moore, OK.” “I was preceded in death by my father Thurman Davis from whom I learned honesty, a good work ethic and saw firsthand a man’s love for his family. I was also preceded by my grandparents Otto and Bertha Pankratz.” Gary was a kind, gentle man and he will be missed by his friends, his in-laws (Pat and John Takacs, Margie and Jack Turnbough, Shirley Wedding, Trinka Wedding, Peter Soh and Michele Soh) and extended family (Wynema and Verna). He is preceded in death by infant brothers Lynn and Dale, two brothers-in-law Joseph S. Wedding and Larry Wayne Wedding, sister-in-law Rebecca McKain, and two nephews Johnny Takacs and Tim Wedding. Gary’s family will receive friends at the Davis Family Funeral Home , 918-534-3030, 113 S. Osage (Hwy. 75), Dewey, on Sunday, Nov. 16, from 4-6 p.m. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Bartlesville Lighthouse Shelter, or to the Wasono Shrine Club Transportation Fund (Shriner Hospitals for Children), both in care of Davis Family Funeral Home, 113 S. Osage, Dewey, OK 74029. Funeral services will be held Monday, Nov. 17, 2014, at 2 p.m., Bartlesville First Church of the Nazarene, and followed by interment at Dewey Cemetery. Services are under the direction of Carter Davis and the Davis Family Funeral Home. Online condolences and remembrances may be shared with Gary’s family at www.DavisFamilyFuneralHome.com.

Mr. Gary Wayne Davis

February 1, 1946 - November 13, 2014