Michael Ray Davis

1951 - 2021

Michael Ray "Mike" Davis

Michael Ray "Mike" Davis was called home, surrounded by family, on January 29, 2021 after a long illness.

Mike was born in Ranger, Texas to Patricia Irene Borst of Keyser, West Virginia and Woodrow Wilson Rucker "Boots" Davis of Eastland County, Texas. One of Boots' six children, Mike's beginnings were humble. He

spent his earliest years on a hardscrabble farm and in small homes in Abilene and Breckenridge. In grade school Mike moved with his mother and two younger sisters Betty and Carla to Arlington, Texas, where he graduated from Sam Houston High School.

Mike was drafted into the US Army in the early 1970's. He attended boot camp at Fort Ord in California, trained as a medic and went on to serve as a drug counselor for returning troops at Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri. Throughout his life, he spoke often of unforgettable adventures exploring and spelunking in the Missouri Ozarks.

After honorable discharge from the Army, Mike returned to Arlington where he became a highly skilled machinist and a guitarist/vocalist in a popular local band and in 1980, earned a degree in Graphic Arts from the University of Texas at Arlington.

In 1982 Mike met, fell in love with, and married Laura Anne Malone of Spokane, Washington. They soon started a family and moved north to Denton, Texas--the place he would finally settle down and call home for the rest of his life.

In Denton, Mike worked again as a machinist for Mayday Manufacturing, but he soon began a 25-year career as a Lead Operator at the City of Denton Water Treatment Plant. Continuing a love of precision he developed as a machinist, Mike took great pride in treating his city's water to exact specifications. The product he helped produce was named "Best Tasting Water in Texas" several years in a row. He retired from the city in 2010.

Mike's family was his greatest joy. Never one to hide his feelings, Mike always found ways to show his love, gratitude, and pride. He was the loudest Dad in the baseball stands, offered the most fervent applause at band and choir concerts, and beamed the brightest at Boy Scout Courts of Honor. He was proud to raise a family of huggers, a trait that carries on with his grandchildren.

Mike loved learning about new things and relished a good conversation. He devoured documentaries, and his favorite movies were historical dramas. He could talk about any subject and did so at every opportunity with friends, family, and complete strangers. He scoffed at political correctness and never avoided controversy for the sake of appearances.

Mike worked hard, played hard, and prayed hardest of all. As a Christian, Mike knew that his personal struggles and disappointments gave him perspective to help others. He took time to listen when they shared their stories, and used his experiences and training as a counselor to offer his unique brand of advice. He gave dutifully to many charities.

Mike never gave up, never took the easy way out, and fought hard to stay with us as long as he could. He is survived by his "wife" Laura, son Jesse, daughter-in-law Diana, grandchildren Victoria, Benjamin, and Sam, daughter Elizabeth Michelle, son William, future daughter-in-law Lauren Habern, his beloved Aunt Rie and her husband Dave Henry, brother Leon Dudley, sister-in-law Sherilena Dudley, brother Thomas Dudley, sister-in-law Misty Dudley, father-in-law James Watson, Sr., brother-in-law Bart Malone and his wife Diane, and an army of nieces, nephews, great-nieces, great-nephews and one great great niece.

He is joined in the next life with his mother Pat Dudley and father Boots; sisters Betty Davis, Carla Felker, and Darlene Johnson; brothers Samuel Davis, Jimmy Davis, and Howard Dudley; stepfather Homer Dudley; mother-in-law Darlene Watson, brothers-in-law Jefferson Malone and James Watson, Jr.; great-nephew Joshua Davis and dear friends Mark Baber and Kurt Krider.

Friends and family will gather for come-and-go visiting and to swap stories at 1 pm Sunday, February 7, 2021 at North Lakes Park in Denton, Texas. In lieu of flowers, donations to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital would be welcome.