Billy Earl Davis

Billy Davis passed away on March 26th, 2024 surrounded by family. Billy grew up in Lansing. His parents had a home away from home in Mecosta, where Billy moved after he retired from General Motors. Billy was a proud Vietnam Veteran, he served three tours in the United States Army. He received many awards and was a three-time bronze medal recipient. Billy loved everything outdoors. His love for fishing was a huge part of him, he enjoyed all types of fishing but he especially loved his bluegills. Billy once caught a small bluegill, took it home, named it George, and raised it for years. Another passion of Billy's was cooking. He could cook anything and loved to have all the kitchen gadgets to do so. After a day of fishing, he would bring the fish home, clean and scale them, and cook them for dinner. Billy canned a lot of food and would can almost anything: beef, chicken, potatoes, vegetables, but he was most famous for his canned pickles and canned beets. He enjoyed going to the restaurant, planting flowers at the beginning of the summer, going to the ice cream shop (Kings), and going for pontoon rides.
Billy leaves behind a legacy that will be cherished by his son William AKA Little Billy (Heather Compton) Davis, daughter Kimberly (Mark) Wallace, and his beloved grandchildren Leanne, Mindy, Amanda, and Julia. He will always hold a special place in the hearts of his surviving sisters: Dorothy (Greg) Walsh, Linda Davis, and Jody Stephens, along with numerous nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents, William and Betty (Fillingham) Davis; grandson, Stephen Wallace; brothers and sisters-in-law, Norm and Julie Davis and Curtis and Carolyn May, and twin sister, Bonny Moore.
Billy Davis (Grandpa) loved to share his knowledge and life experiences with his family and those he loved. Principles and life skills such as saving for the future, cooking, fishing, hunting, boating, mushroom hunting, and sharing stories from his days in the war. His memory and knowledge will live on in all of us. We will try our best to follow his advice and remember the many things he taught us throughout the years.
The memory of Billy's warm smile and strong work ethic will forever echo in the hearts of those who knew him. His life will be celebrated in a military graveside service to be held at Deepdale Memorial Park in Lansing, MI on Saturday, April 13, 2024, at 11:00 AM. May his soul rest in peace as we come together to honor his life and legacy. Memorial contributions in Billy's name may be given to the Ki Ki's Playland Sanctuary & Rescue please follow the link to give: https://www.kikisparrotrescue.com/how-you-could-help. Arrangements by the Holihan-Atkin-Barclay Funeral Home, Grand Ledge. Share your memories and condolences online at www.holihanatkin.com