Earl Raymond Davis

Earl Raymond Davis, 91, of Malcom, IA passed away on October 3, 2025, at Mercy Medical Center in Des Moines, IA.
A graveside service will be held at 2:00 pm on Monday, October 6, 2025, at Ivy Hill cemetery in Malcom, IA.
A memorial gathering and luncheon will be held at the Malcom American Legion Hall immediately following the graveside service.
Memorials may be made payable to Ivy Hill Cemetery, mailed in c/o Smith Funeral Home, PO Box 368, Grinnell, IA 50112.
Earl was born on August 3, 1934, to Bryan and Lucy (Trease) Davis in Grinnell, IA. Earl was raised in Grinnell and attended school until the 7th grade. He then entered the work force; employed by Cornland, a fertilizer plant, Phil Palmer, who owned a fertilizer company, and Howard Macy, driving a cement truck. He then started Davis Sanitation Service, contracted to pick up trash in the Malcom, Brooklyn, Deep River, Guernsey and Searsboro areas, but still worked on Saturdays for Howard Macy. Earl will be remembered for his work ethic.
On April 3, 1954, Earl was united in marriage to Eleanor "Sissy" Ervin in Montezuma, IA. To this union the couple had two children, Bryan and Kathy. The family lived in Grinnell, IA before moving to Malcom, IA in 1976.
After over 50 years of marriage, his wife Eleanor "Sissy" passed away in 2005. Earl met Ella Jump, who has been his significant other for the last 15 years.
Earl loved to fish and go on fishing trips. He would go to his son's pond, to Red Wing, MN on the Mississippi river, on Saturday nights, go catfishing with his brothers in his younger years on the Iowa River, and compete in Walleye tournaments with his son-in-law David in Ohio. He and "Sissy" liked going to the Blue Grass festival in Drakesville, IA, and they loved to dance on Saturday nights to their favorite band the Howard Davis Band at the Grinnell Eagles Club. Earl wintered in Donna, Texas for over 40 years, never having to spend another winter in Iowa.
He is survived by his children Bryan (Donna) Davis of Grinnell, IA, and Kathy (David) Dayton of Brooklyn, IA, his grandchildren, Allison (Kevin) Utech of Grinnell, IA, Brianne Goetzinger of Grinnell, IA, and Molly Dayton of Brooklyn, IA, his great grandchildren, Davis, and Brooks Utech, and Rieslynn Goetzinger, and his significant other, Ella Jump, of Malcom, IA.
He is preceded in death by his wife Eleanor "Sissy", his parents, Bryan and Lucy, siblings, Albert Davis, and Farrell Dayton, and his 5 half-brothers, Ray, Glenn, Burt, Clyde, and Dale Phipps.