Dr. William “Bill” Edward Davis, 84
A graveside service for former Ozark County resident Dr. William “Bill” Edward Davis, 84, will be held at 2 p.m. April 16, 2022, at Clear Springs Cemetery followed by a celebration of life ceremony at Dawt Mill Resort.
Bill, a well respected physician and beloved husband, father, brother and uncle, died Jan. 19, at home with his loving family by his side.
During his 84 years he lived an inspiring life full of accomplishments, love and adventure.
Bill was born at home in Elijah, as the first child of Cleon and Floa Davis, both dedicated and excellent educators in Ozark County.
He gained his love for higher education, hard work and excellence from his parents. At the age of 7, his family was made complete by the birth of his very precocious and adorable baby sister, Peggy Jane, whom he cherished and loved dearly.
As a child, Bill was determined, curious and driven, and he attended the prestigious Wentworth Military Academy for part of his schooling. He graduated from high school at the age of 15.
After graduation, he moved to Kansas and became a pharmacist at Shalinky’s drugstore in Argentine, Kansas, where he met the love of his life, Luese.
Bill and Luese (Graham) Davis married in 1962, and in 1968 they celebrated his graduation from Kansas City College of Osteopathy and Surgery.
In 1969, Bill and Luese and their daughter Donna moved to southern Oregon to open their first medical practice. Together, Bill and Luese started his career as a physician and bought their dream home on 65 acres where they raised their children. They had a menagerie of farm animals, enjoyed gardening projects, joined a square dance club and chased adventures up and down the rivers in southern Oregon.
Bill loved caring for others throughout his lifelong career as a doctor. Through the years he worked as an emergency room physician, a jail “doc,” a physician at the V.A. hospital and finished his career as the encouraging and inspiring medical director at Klamath County Mental Health.
He loved people and encouraged his patients and loved ones alike to set high goals and achieve them.
After a successful career, he retired in 2018 to stay home to give care to his wife Luese.
Having never met a stranger, he was the life of the party with a way about him that commanded a room, campfire or guests at a dinner table to become his audience. Whether he was telling jokes and stories, being Santa Claus in the annual parade, having intentional conversations or giving Toastmasters speeches, Bill always had a sparkle in his eyes that lit up the room. He loved nothing more than quality time and meaningful conversations with those he loved.
He had a thrill-seeking spirit and loved adventure. He loved to tell of his early ski adventures with Luese and sister Peggy, driving overnight from Kansas to Colorado for quick weekend ski trips.
His many pastimes included rafting the Grand Canyon with his daughter and nephew, rowing his raft over countless rapids on the wild and scenic section of the lower Rogue, Salmon or the Klamath rivers with family and friends, scuba diving in Honduras, skydiving, hiking the Colorado Trail with his twin daughters and taking bike trips around Oregon with his son.
He also loved spending time on his many other hobbies including: hydroponic gardening, trying new healthy diets, cooking experiments, fixing anything and everything, finding treasures at the Red Barn Auction and road trips.
Throughout his life nothing was more important to Bill than his family and friends and colleagues. He called weekly, sometimes daily, to get updates on his children’s and grandchildren’s lives and to check in on family downhome in the Ozarks to tell each of them “I love you.”
His family in Missouri was always in his heart, and he loved nothing more than a slice of aunt Opal’s blackberry cobbler.
His legacy of loving deeply, excelling in everything he did and his service to others will be proudly carried on through his remaining family.
Bill was preceded in death by his parents Cleon and Floa Davis.
He is survived by his wife of 60 years Elsie Luese Davis, and his sister Peggy Jane Wall and husband Charlie. Bill is also survived by his children and their spouses: Donna Bond and husband Pat, Andrew Graham and wife Cindy, Jane Parker, June Mauritsen and husband Luke. He is also survived by his nephews: Mark Bowe and wife Jamie, Matt Bowe and wife Becky, seven grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.