Larry W. Davis (1938-2019)

DAVIS, HOWELL

Posted By: Ken Wright (email)
Date: 1/2/2020 at 20:52:38

Larry W. "Smoke" Davis, 81, of Maquoketa, Iowa, passed away on Thursday, December 12, 2019, at Unity Point Finley Hospital in Dubuque, Iowa.

A celebration of Larry's life will be held at 11 A.M., Friday, December 20, 2019, at Carson Celebration of Life Center in Maquoketa. Visitation will be held from 4 to 7 P.M. on Thursday, December 19, 2019, at Carson Celebration of Life Center in Maquoketa. Cremation will follow the visitation. Burial will be at St. Patrick's Cemetery, Delmar, Iowa.

Larry Wayne Davis was born on March 7, 1938 in Maquoketa, Iowa to Claire Franklin and Veda Marie (Howell) Davis. He attended Delmar Grade School and graduated from Delmar High School in 1955. He then went to Augustana College before entering the U.S. Navy where he earned an honorable discharge. He married Shirlene Claire VanPelt on August 29, 1959 in Delmar, Iowa. To this union five children were born, David, Douglas, Michael, Lori and Kim.

Larry had first worked as the manager of Gambles Department Store in Watseka, Illinois and then returned to the Maquoketa area where he managed the Maquoketa Gambles Store for a short time. He then started a 30 plus year career with the U.S. Post Office in Maquoketa, starting out as a mail carrier and retiring as the Assistant Postmaster.

Larry was an avid golfer carding a hole-in-one and spending many days on the course and the clubhouse as a member at the Maquoketa Country Club. He had umpired high school baseball for over 50 years and enjoyed trapping and coon hunting with his favorite buddy, his dog Lute. Over the years he loved watching his grandchildren's activities, spending time with his family, playing Spade Euchre with friends, watching his LA Dodgers, and Iowa Hawkeyes football and basketball. He so enjoyed the Monday night gang at Obies and was known to have 1 or 2 Jim Beam and water. He also enjoyed Saturday morning coffee at Fareway.

Those left to honor his memory include his wife of 60 years, Shirlene Davis of Maquoketa, IA; children, David (Denise) Davis of Delmar, IA, Douglas (Johneen) Davis of Frankfort, IL, Michael (Cathy) Davis of Murfreesboro, TN, Lori Fisher of Johnston, IA, and Kim (Liz) Davis of Beverly, MA; 12 grandchildren, Brooke, Brittney and Jordan Davis, Russell (Michelle) and Traeger (Brook) Penicook, Josh (Page), Abigail, and Tayne Davis, Mallory Manning, Jacob Fisher, Julie Milder and Tre Davis; and 1 great-grandchild, Jayce Merkle. He was preceded in death by his parents and a sister Linda VanPelt.

In lieu of other expressions of sympathy, a Larry W. "Smoke" Davis memorial fund has been established.

Online condolences may be left at www.CarsonAndSon.com.