Sheldon Harley Davis (1921-1948)

DAVIS, MCKINNEY

Posted By: Dorian Myhre (email)
Date: 5/26/2020 at 16:10:52

From Nevada Evening Journal October 25, 1948 (page 4)

Many Attend Last Rite For Sheldon H. Davis

The Colo Methodist church was filed with relatives and friends 2 o'clock Wednesday afternoon, Oct. 20 paying their last tribute of love and respect to Sheldon Davis, who was killed Sunday evening, Oct. 17 in an airplane crash which occurred on his father's farm south and est of Colo.

The altar of the church was banked with beautiful flowers which were mute expressions of the esteem the deceased held in the community.

The Rev. Alfred Schneck, pastor of the church, was in charge of the services.

Music was provided by Charles Hinton and Mrs. Virgil Robinson who sang "Jesus Keep Me Near the Cross" and Mrs. Robinson sang "In the Garden," as a solo number. Mrs. Mark Wilson was pianist.

The casket bearers were James Moody, Ray Granger, Raymond Scott, Ronald Billman, Clayton Carmody and Junior Liston.

The flowers were cared for and arranged by Mrs. Josephine Nowlan, Mrs. Florence Carmody, Mrs. Leo Liston and Miss Lucille Lutz.

Burial was in the Colo cemetery and military services were in charge of the Colo American Legion Post, No. 139.

Color bearer was Kenneth Nuttal and Stanley Squires and John Dickson were color guards. The firing squad in charge of LuVerne Horner, included Robert Schuler, Glenn Olson, Everrett Jones, Herbert Hopkins, Raymond Smith, John Orr and Jack Strellner. All were in uniforms.

Ray Granger, post commander, and Charles Lehman, chaplain, had charge of the graveside services. The American flag, which draped the casket, was presented to Mrs. Davis.

Obituary

Sheldon Harley Davis, son of Harley and Diana Davis, was born in Lincoln township, south of Zearing, Iowa, March 2, 1921. He moved with his parents to a farm east of Colo in 1930.

He attended the Zearing and Colo student, graduating from the later in 1939. During high school days he was given the name of "Jeff" by his classmates, which he was known by all of his friends.

After working two years for his father he enrolled in Iowa State college. Joining the Army Air Corps reserve in 1942, he was enrolled into active service in February of 1943. "Jeff" took his cadet training at Milliken University at Decatur, Ill. After two years in the United States he was sent to a base in Italy, where he served six months in the 15th Air Force. He completed 30 missions as a waist gunner and radio man on a B-24 and was discharged Dec. 8, 1945, at Chanute Field, Ill.

He was united in marriage to Naomi Elizabeth McKinney on July 10, 1945. To this union ws born one son Randall Lee, age two.

"Jeff" returned to Iowa State in the Spring quarter of 1946 and all together completed three years of college, majoring in agricultural science. In 1947 they moved to the farm east of Colo, where "Jeff" was in partnership with his father, and association which they both enjoyed a great deal.

He was a member of the Colo Methodist church and the Colo American Legion Post No. 139.

Sheldon died Sunday, Oct. 17, following an airplane accident on his father's farm. He is survived by his wife and son, his parents, three brothers and three sisters, Paul of Des Moines, Jay of San Francisco, Calif., Edison of Colo, Ruby of Des Moines, Theopal and Dixie Lee, both at home and other relatives and friends.

Nineteen members of his 1939 high school graduating class attended the services in body.

From A Distance

Those attending the funeral services from a distance were from Baxter, Conrad, Des Moines, Hingham, Mont., Marshalltown, Los Angeles, Calif., Cedar Rapids, Ames, Zearing, Nevada, State Center and San Francisco, Calif.

A committee from the Methodist and Evangelical Aid societies served dinner at the Harley Davis home to members of the families, their relatives and friends, who came from a distance.