Merle E. Davis 1924 - 1998

DAVIS, BOOTH, CHAMBERLAIN

Posted By: Connie Swearingen-Volunteer (email)
Date: 8/9/2014 at 23:15:30

8 November 1998

MAPLETON, Iowa — Merle E. Davis, 74, of Mapleton died Thursday at Burgess Memorial Hospital in Onawa.

Services will be 10:30 a.m. Monday at St. John's United Methodist Church in Mapleton with Pastor Shirley Textor officiating. Burial will be in Mt. Hope Cemetery at Mapleton, with military honors provided by the American Legion Loren Hollister Post 496 of Mapleton. Visitation will be after 2 p.m. today, with a prayer service at 7 p.m., at the Armstrong Funeral Home in Mapleton.

Mr. Davis was born Aug. 7, 1924 at Cushing, Iowa, the son Of Frederick "Ned" and Mary (Booth) Davis. He grew up and attended school in the Cushing and Correctionville, Iowa areas. He was in the United States Army during World War II. He then farmed the family farm in the Danbury, Correctionville and Cushing communities.

He married Joyce Chamberlain at Mapleton, Iowa on Aug. 31, 1946. In 1946, he started in the auto body business and has owned and operated Davis Motor Company. He also became a franchise dealer for the Dodge-Plymouth companies and operated the Mapleton Theater for a few years. They lived in Mapleton their entire life.

He was a member of St. John's United Methodist Church in Mapleton. He served on the Mapleton City Council and was Mayor of Mapleton for 16 years. While he was mayor, he was instrumental in the acquisition of a new airport, natural gas service, cable television service and the new Mapleton Community Center.

He served as President of the Northwest Iowa Mayors Association. He was Director of the Monona County Crime Commission where he was active in facilitating the funding and construction of the current Monona County Law Enforcement Center in Onawa. He was a member of the American Legion Loren Hollister Post 496 of Mapleton, the Monona County Landfill Board and a past member of the Mapleton Community Club.

Survivors include his wife; two sons and their wives, Steve and Lorraine and Tony and Sandra all of Mapleton; five grandchildren, J.R. of Battle Creek, Iowa, Aaron and Clayton of Mapleton, Melissa Crain of Moville, Iowa and Eric of Mapleton.

He was preceded in death by his parents; one brother, Gerald and two sisters, Anna Mae Kirchner and Maxine Davis.