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ZARRO WALTER DAVIS, 94, of Las Cruces, NM passed peacefully to eternity on February 7, 2026, surrounded by his family.Zarro was born September 7, 1931, in Lone Pine California, to George Russell Davis and Myrtle George Davis, the oldest of four siblings. “Zeke” spent a carefree childhood fishing and riding horses with his friends in the Bishop, California area and would often reminisce about summers spent in Oklahoma with his stepfather Everett Castle, visiting his grandmother. Formal schooling was not his favorite way to pass time, but his mother was determined to see him graduate high school. He would describe dipping the girl’s braids into the inkwells and challenging teachers who picked on his Paiute friends. Zarro graduated from Bishop Union High School, where he was a member of FFA, and enjoyed woodworking. To his teachers’ credit, his penmanship was beautiful and his signature unique. Following his graduation, he worked various jobs including as a pinsetter at a bowling alley, working at his family’s garnet mine, at Mammoth Mountain ski area, and on a road construction crew in Death Valley. Zarro was joined in holy matrimony to Amelia Vargas in Bishop, California, and after the birth of their first child, Lorena in 1959, they moved to Thoreau, NM, where they were blessed with three more children: Debbie, Yvonne, and Galen.At his stepfather’s urging, Zarro took a job at Blackjack mine in Thoreau, beginning a life-time career in the uranium mines. Prior to the 1983 closure of United Nuclear Mine in Churchrock, NM, Zarro had been promoted to a position where his duties included mapping mine shafts to maintain integrity of their structure and enforce safety. He then went to work for the City of Gallup until his retirement.Though he had no formal education, he knew a lot about many subjects, due to a lifetime of reading anything he could get his hands on and watching the news at 6:00 and 10:00. If you were lucky enough to ask the right question, he would talk your ear off about a variety of subjects, including his childhood and the history of uranium mining in New Mexico.Zarro was often compared to St. Francis, as he loved animals. Star was his horse and he cared for and loved many dogs, his most beloved was a beagle named Snoopy. Not one to discriminate, he also owned cats and tropical fish. He enjoyed watching Bonanza, Gunsmoke, Hawaii Five-O, and MASH and listening to Herb Alpert and the Tijuana Brass, Rascal Flatts, and Willie Nelson.He was the ultimate Girl Scout and Boy Scout dad, supporting his wife in her leadership of troops and dens for their children. He and other dads built a roadside aluminum can “hopper” for people to throw their cans into and which provided funding for scouting in the Grants NM community. He hauled gear for countless trips up and down the Milan mesa and to scout camp. He loved camping and fishing, and no one could fold a tent or make camp potatoes like he could.Zarro loved motorcycles, and shared that love with his son Galen, who describes their adventures looking for ghost towns on their Hondas as some of the best days of his life.Zarro was a kind man with a gentle nature. He preferred to observe rather than be the center of attention, listening more than he spoke. He carried himself with quiet strength, spoke softly, and offered witty wisdom when it mattered most. Zarro treated everyone with genuine kindness and respect, accepting others without prejudice. He possessed a sense of humor that most often came out as Zarro-isms during conversation, such as “Going to hell in a handbasket”, “Shit, piss, or get off the pot”, and “Nervous as a cat in a room full of rocking chairs”. If you asked how he was, he might answer “about like a blade grass blowing in the wind”.A Catholic convert, Zarro was a member of and provided service to various parishes in the communities in which he and Amelia lived. He assisted in the building of St. Vivian Catholic Church in Milan, NM and he and his son helped construct the grotto on the parish grounds.Zarro is preceded in death by his father, George Davis, mother Myrtle Mae Davis Castle, his stepfather Everett Castle, and sister Babka Lorraine Cochrane.Zarro is survived by his wife of 67 years, Amelia Vargas Davis of Las Cruces, NM; daughter Lorena Davis, Las Cruces, NM; daughter Debbie (Ralph) Davis Berger, Rio Rancho, NM; daughter Yvonne Davis, Amarillo, TX; and son Galen Davis, Seattle WA. He is also survived by his grandchildren: Brianne (Josh) Boatman, Stephen (Sara) Berger, Jessica (Luis) Iglesias, Taylor (Lauren) Berger, Chelsea Granillo, Christina Granillo, Emmaliese Freeman, Kenton Freeman, and Stephanie (Troy) Beenau. Also, nine great-grandchildren: Bailey, Stile, Ivan, Nikolai, Declan, Elizabeth, Carter, Frankie and Cooper. He is also survived by his sister, MaryElla LaFond and his brother Cecil Castle, as well as many beloved nieces and nephews.Zarro was lovingly and devotedly cared for the past three years by his daughter, Lorena, who considered him her best friend. Additionally, the staff of Aristocrat Assisted Living, to whom he endeared himself the past two years, and Sierra Home Health and Hospice.At his request, cremation will take place and a memorial service for the celebration of his life will be held at a later date. Service arrangements have been entrusted to the care of Baca’s Funeral Chapel of Las Cruces and Sunset Crematory, 300 E. Boutz Road, 527-2222. Your exclusive provider for “Veterans and Family Memorial Care.” For online condolences logon to www.bacasfuneralchapelslascruces.com

Zarro Walter Davis

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