Robert Lee Davis

He was loved and respected in life; he’ll be greatly missed in death and always remembered. Bob went to be with the Lord at the age of 94 after a brief illness. Surrounded by family and friends, he passed away peacefully at his home in Baton Rouge, LA on Friday, July 22.

He was born on October 26, 1916 in Jonesboro, LA and grew up the only child of Charles and Louise Davis in Arizona.

After completing Patagonia High School in Senoita, he briefly attended Arizona State University, later working at various jobs including ranching, fruit-picking, and lariat making.

Toward the end of the depression he greatly enjoyed his work with the Civilian Conservation Corps in Oklahoma, which enabled him to enroll afterwards at Tucson University in Tucson, AZ. Life’s path then led him to work several years as a railroad engineer in New Mexico, after which he some time in Alaska as a chef for a logging camp.

Bob later enrolled at Eastern New Mexico University where he met a young physical education teacher, Henrietta ‘Bea’ Lockhart, who would become his wife of 56 years; they were married on June 4, 1955 in Portales, New Mexico.

The couple moved to Winnipeg, Canada “just for fun”, and after two winters he came to the conclusion that he had never liked cold weather. Moving to Baton Rouge he found a job at Lynch International Harvester, working first as a mechanic and then as shop manager until his retirement in 1982.

He spent his retirement years enjoying his garden, working in the yard, playing with his dog, “Wahoo”, and traveling with his wife, children and grandchildren.

Bob’s faith was very important to him, and he was an active member in several local churches. He and Bea attended Istrouma Baptist Church for nearly 30 years where he served as a Sunday School teacher and sang in the choir. They then attended Bethany World Prayer Center; for the last 13 years they have been members of The Rock Church in Zachary, LA.

Bob is survived by his wife, Henrietta ‘Bea’ Davis, and four children: Douglas and Svetlana Davis, Deborah Davis, Donna and Mike Watson, all of Baton Rouge, and Delmon Davis, of New Roads. He leaves five grandchildren: Rob Davis, Michael Watson, Anya Davis, Matthew Davis, and Nicholas Davis and one great-grandchild, Bliss Autry. His passing will also be mourned by numerous friends and his extended family.

Visitation will be held at Greenoaks Memorial on Fla. Blvd. on Sunday, July 24 from 5-8 p.m. Visitation on Monday will be at The Rock Church in Zachary, 9-11AM, with services following, Pastor Rocky Bezet presiding. Interment will be at Hillcrest Memorial in Baker, LA.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be sent to: Southwest Indian Children’s Fund / P.O. Box 906 / Broken Arrow, OK / 74013 / Phone: (928) 526-2211

Three words that sum up Bob’s life: Sacrifice, Faithfulness, Constancy