William Davis

MCCLURE, Ill. -- William Howard Davis, 89, of McClure died Friday, July 29, 2005, at the Lutheran Home in Cape Girardeau.

He was born Jan. 23, 1916, in Cape Girardeau, son of Jeff and Nora Seabaugh Davis. He and Gladys Davis were married Jan. 1, 1940, in St. Louis.

Mr. Davis was a self-employed farmer more than 64 years, farming west of Cape Girardeau and at Chaffee, Mo. He moved north of McClure in 1948, and was still farming with his sons and grandsons at Davis Farms on Illinois Route 3. He raised cattle and row crops.

He served as commissioner on the Drainage and Levee Committee 20 years, and was a member of Grace United Methodist Church. He had a place at Bennett Springs, Mo., for trout fishing for nine years.

Survivors include his wife, Gladys of McClure; two sons, Bill and Linda Davis and Tom and Martha Davis of McClure; a brother, Wilmer Davis of Cape Girardeau; four grandsons, Marty and Drew Davis of McClure, Matt Davis of Ava, Ill., Joe Davis of Cape Girardeau; three great-grandchildren, Tyler, Allyssa and Megan Davis.

Friends may call at Ford and Sons Sprigg Street Funeral Home from 4 to 8 p.m. Sunday.

The funeral will be at 2 p.m. Monday at the funeral home, with the Rev. Scott Moon officiating. Burial will be in Cape County Memorial Park in Cape Girardeau.

Memorials may be made to Grace United Methodist Church.