Davis, W.J. Bryan 1899-1988

DAVIS, CLINE, BUTLER, TREASE, PHIPPS, LIPPINCOTT, DAYTON, REYES, SADLER, HICKS, HENNING

Posted By: Marilyn Holmes (email)
Date: 10/29/2009 at 06:41:44

Grinnell (IA) Herald-Register; Dec. 19, 1988

RITES SATURDAY FOR MR. DAVIS

W.J. Bryan Davis, 89, of Grinnell died Wednesday, Dec. 14, at Friendship Manor Care Center in Grinnell.

Funeral services were conducted at 11 a.m. Saturday at the Smith Funeral Home, with the Rev. Keith Briggs, pastor of the Grinnell First Friends Church, officiating. Organist was Kathleen Heffner, and vocalist was Ruth Ann Dayton. Pallbearers were Andrew Davis, Bryan Davis, Van Davis Jr., Glen Phipps, Jim Phipps, Richard Phipps, John Reyes and Bryan Sadler.

Burial was in Rock Creek Cemetery.

The son of Johnnie and Florence Cline Davis, he was born June 23, 1899 at Hartford, Mo. The family moved to Exline, Iowa, where he attended rural school. He worked in the coal mines of southern Iowa near Exline and Mystic.

He was married to Lila Jane Butler and the family moved to Grinnell in the late 1920s.

Mr. Davis was later married to Lucy Trease Phipps. He worked for Swift and Company and the Halstead Trucking Company. For many years he was also a self-employed trucker.

In 1950 his wife died, and he was married to Mary Lippincott. Following his retirement he worked part time for the city of Grinnell in the parks and cemetery departments. He was a member of the Eagles Lodge.

Surviving are his wife, Mary; one son, Earl Davis of Malcom; three daughters, Farrell Dayton of Searsboro and Florence Reyes and Doris Sadler, both of Davenport; three stepsons, Glen Phipps of Grinnell, Clyde Phipps of Riverside, Calif., and Bert Phipps of Searsboro; 43 grandchildren; several great-grandchildren and great-great-grandchildren; and one brother, Andy Davis of Grinnell.

He was preceded in death by his parents; his second wife, Lucy Phipps Davis; a son, Albert; two stepsons, Dale and Ray Phipps; two brothers, Henry and Van Davis; and three sisters, Silvia Hicks, Samantha Henning and Viola Davis.