Richard Loren Davis

Richard Loren Davis, 99-year-old resident of Gentry, Arkansas died November 29, 2017 in Siloam Springs, Arkansas. Born October 6, 1918 in Gentry, Arkansas, he was the son of William Key Davis and Vida Fenton Smith Davis. For several years, Loren enjoyed a pen pal relationship with Doris Davis of Yale, Oklahoma. In early 1941 they met for the first time, quickly fell in love and were married December 12, 1941 in Sayer, Oklahoma. After Loren and Doris were married, they made their first home in Tulsa, Oklahoma where Loren worked as a welder manufacturing large oil storage tanks. In the Spring of 1942 Loren, along with his generation, answered the call of World War II. He served in the Army Air Core as an air plane mechanic until the end of the war. After his discharge, he and Doris settled on a farm outside Yale, where they raised their five children. During those years, he farmed dairy, crops, beef and poultry while managing a local feed mill and wheat buying station. In 1967 Loren and Doris sold the farm and moved to Joplin, Missouri to become dorm parents at Ozark Christian College. While in Joplin, Loren started and operated a construction business specializing in restoring and remodeling older homes in Joplin. In 1979 Loren and Doris retired and moved to the farm where he had grown up outside Gentry, Arkansas. They had many wonderful years there. He enjoyed gardening, caring for the land and was a successful bee keeper. He was an active leader in his community and church wherever he lived. During the past 38 years Loren and Doris attended and were active in the First Christian Church in Gentry. They celebrated 75 years of their wonderful marriage with family and friends in December of 2016. Loren was preceded in death by Doris, his beloved wife, his parents; his siblings Merrill Davis, Linton Davis, Ethel Davis, Catherine Davis and Harold Davis; one daughter-in-law, Kathleen Davis; and one son-in-law, Dennis Murray. Loren is survived by his children; John Davis and wife Carol of San Marcos, Texas, Karen Davis Rees and husband Ben of Hong Kong, China, Mark Davis and wife Arlene of Gentry, Tim Davis of Yale and Anne Davis Murray of Choctaw, Oklahoma; his ten grandchildren, Carol Collins, Matthew Rees, Meghan Robertson, Kristin Johnson, Eric Jon Mark Davis, Alana Cluck, Ryan Davis, Matthew Davis, Tom Hoyt, Michael Hoyt, twenty-two great-grandchildren, and one great-great grandchild. Loren was a loved husband, father and grandfather. He will be greatly missed by his family and friends. Memorial services will be announced later.

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Richard Loren Davis

October 6, 1918 - November 29, 2017