Gail Davis

Gail Henry Davis son of Charles Davis and Francis Downey Davis was born November 10, 1915 in Enterprise, Iowa and died October 24, 2012 in Perry, Iowa. He was 96. Gail was raised in Perry where he attended school. He is 6th in the Iowa High School Athletic Association Track & Field All-Time Best performance in the javelin. Gail played football and was part of the undefeated 1935 Bluejay football team. He is known as the "Dusky Dynamiter" and the "Brown Bomber", and also holds the school record for single season punting average. After high school Gail enlisted in the defense industry during WWII. On November 10, 1938 Gail and Mary Malinda Burke were united in marriage. They were blessed with four children: Dwight, Carol, Ronald, and Janice. Gail worked for Davidson Chemical Plant for 25 years then retired from there. Mary passed away in 1973. On December 10, 1978 Gail married Margaret Burns. Gail enjoyed hunting, fishing, watching westerns, and was a Viking's football fan. He was an active member of the Methodist Church and the Otley Masonic Lodge. Gail loved spending time with his grandkids "grandpa's camp". On March 12, 2007 the Perry Relays became Perry High School Davis Relays in honor of the manner in which he represented his family, the Perry Community School District, and our community. Gail was given an honorary diploma from the Perry Community School District on April 2, 2009. He was likely one of the oldest living African-American high school athletes in the state of Iowa. Gail is preceded in death by his parents Charles and Francis Davis, son Dwight Davis, grandson Ronald Davis Jr., brothers Charles, George, Gerald, Richard, Herman, William, Paul, Minyon, Roderick, and Frederick Davis, Wilma Davis, and son-in-law Eldridge Morrow. Gail will be lovingly remembered by his wife Margaret Davis of Perry, daughter Carol Morrow of Des Moines, son Ronald Davis (Beverly) of Minneapolis, daughter Janice Davis of Minneapolis, nine grandchildren: Dwight Davis Jr., Michelle Davis, Nicole Simpson, Leslie Davis, Michael Morrow (Marilee), Audrey Morrow, Netrea Miklowski (Gary Savage), Timothy Loyd (Quiana), and Wendell Johnson; great-grandchildren: Xavier Morrow, Jordan Morrow, Alexander Morrow, Willie Stanifer, Summyr Davis, Ty Miklowski, Kyra Miklowski, Shalea Lee, Shanea Lee, Tichelle Loyd, Tiana Loyd, Jasir Johnson, Jasree Johnson, Trinity Joseph, Elasia, Demetrius, Nypree, Miracle, Kanye, Autumn, and Bobby Jr.; great-great-grandchildren: Marcus and Warren Davis, and Bobby III; nieces, nephews, other relatives, and many friends.