Ray Davidson

"Music is your own experience, your thoughts, your wisdom. If you don't live it, it won't come out of your horn." - Charlie "Bird" Parker

Ray Davidson lived his music, and his life reflected the jazz and choral music he so adored - vibrant, passionate and inspiring.

Ray died on Feb. 2, 2015, at the age of 92, in Tyler. A memorial service will be held on Saturday, Feb. 21, 2015, at noon at First Presbyterian Church, 230 W. Rusk St., with the Rev. Dr. Stuart Baskin officiating. The service will be followed by a jazz lunch and celebration in the church's fellowship hall.

Ray was born in Hughes Springs on May 26, 1922, to Claudia Kenna and Ray Vernon Davidson, who nurtured and encouraged Ray's passion for music. This passion took root while listening to his mother play ragtime and church hymns, then bloomed as he began dissecting jazz tunes. Ray was allowed to "go for it," and go for it he did. Ray taught himself to play the saxophone during high school in Port Arthur. He was so enchanted by the instrument that his fate was sealed at age 15, when he picked up his Musician's Union card so he could play professionally.

Ray graduated from Southwestern University in Georgetown, after leading his Kappa Sigs in their various musical endeavors - most of which included serenading sororities across campus. During World War II, Ray joined the U.S. Navy Midshipmen's program at Southwestern. Despite his musical background, Ray declined an offer to play in the Navy band. However, Uncle Sam knew best and put his keen ear to use as a sonar officer aboard the U.S.S. Fletcher. That is, Ray was tasked with leading a crew that protected its ship by listening for danger in the depths below. Ray saw his fill of action aboard the Fletcher in Manila, Corregidor and Zamboanga, among many other places.

Although life aboard the Fletcher was exciting, nothing the war had to offer was as thrilling as what he found on leave while docked in San Francisco, California. There Ray spotted "a gal" whose spirit shone brighter than the midday sun on the Pacific. Mary Sunshine Cudworth was riding a merry-go-round at a dockside carnival when Ray and Sunny first locked eyes and the pair just jived . Neither being ones for convention, the two were engaged just four days later. As anyone who knew them often heard, they met on a merry-go-round and "have been going around together ever since."

After he finished his tour of duty, Ray's song progressed to Carthage, to join Sunny and the rest of his family. Ray worked for a stint in his father's hardware store, Davidson Brothers, and he and Sunny had their first child, Ron. While Ray was "gigging around" as lead alto sax with a regional big band, The Buddy Ryland Band, he crossed paths with famed band leader Gene Krupa, who gave Ray the chance to blow his horn in the same clubs and halls of the jazz giants who had inspired him for so long.

Although he loved the music, Ray's song was incomplete after two years spent traveling the jazz circuit with Krupa's band, so he returned to Carthage to find the harmony he so missed - his family. Not missing a beat , Ray and Sunny had their daughter, Claudia, and their quintet was complete when, four years later, younger son Kenna was born. Ray worked various music-related jobs in East Texas, including band directing and writing the school song for Beckville High School. However, it was in leading the Carthage and Longview First Methodist Church choirs that Ray's song segued to a tune he'd live for the next 40-plus years of his life - leading worship as director of music.

The Davidson family's anthem took them to Wichita Falls, where Ray became minster of music of the First United Methodist Church. As conductor of the Wichita Falls Civic Chorus, he conducted many choral works over his 37 years in Wichita Falls. He prepared and conducted such works as Brahms' "Requiem," Faure's "Requiem," Mendelssohn's "Elijah" and Honegger's "King David" to name a few. He conducted Handel's "Messiah" at least nine times. Ray also composed and published many anthems, service music and solos. He was the cantor for Temple Israel for many years and performed as bass soloist in many choral works and recitals. Ray's crowning achievement, though, was his ability to help shape his choristers' lives through music and the lessons he taught that transcended music. "Mr. D" conducted a graded choir program of eight choirs, directed yearly summer youth musicals and created an annual Easter Lily procession and Christmas candlelight service. These services continue to this day. Through Sunny's School for Little People (also at FUMC Wichita Falls) and Mr. D's choir program, Ray and Sunny were instrumental in the lives of multiple generations of Wichita Falls children.

After they both retired, Ray and Sunny moved back to East Texas, where Ray busied his hands acting as the interim choir director for First Presbyterian Tyler, helping Sunny in her various civic engagements and countless dinner parties she threw in Tyler, and being the most loyal and loving "Dibi" a grandchild could ever want.

Jazz - like a triumphant coda - made a final entrance into Ray's song while in Tyler, as he directed, arranged for and played lead alto sax in the incredible Tyler Big Band throughout the last years of his life.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his adored and adoring wife of 65 years, Sunny, who died in 2009; and his "baby" sister, Sally Moore, in August, 2014.

He was immeasurably proud of his children, daughter and son-in-law, Claudia and Otis Carroll, Tyler; sons and daughters-in-law, Ron and Janell Davidson, Grand Prairie, and Kenna and Dana Davidson, Rowlett.

He adored his grandchildren and their spouses, Jennifer and Jason Davidson, Grapevine; Rod and Paige Davidson, Euless; Adam and Christian Carroll, San Marcos; Mandy and Kyle Nelson, Tyler; Worth and Natalie Carroll, Austin; Kevin and Allison Davidson, Dallas; and Megan Davidson, Georgetown.

Ray also loved his six great-grandchildren, Quinn Newbern, Delaney, Sadie and Ryder Davidson, Rhett Davidson and Sloane Nelson. His family also includes his brothers-in-law Delwin Moore, Carthage, and Leslie Cudworth, Sacramento, California; and sister-in-law Rose Porter, Independence, Kansas; and niece and nephew Molly Moore Reader and Rich Moore and their families.

Ray's family wishes to thank the staff of The Hamptons at Pine Forest Assisted Living for their good care of him over the past several years.

The family requests no flowers. Instead, you may honor Mr. D with memorials of your choice, or memorials may be directed toward First Presbyterian Church Fine Arts Series, 230 W. Rusk St., Tyler, 75701; Tyler Big Band, 2315 Homestead Lane, 75701; or Southwestern University Department of Music, Office of Gifts, Box 770, Georgetown, 78627-0770: specify School of Music.

Those lucky enough to experience Ray's music will remember his life whenever that jazz horn blows or Brahms is sung. Indeed, Ray's song, like the jazz and choral music he so loved, will endure.