Donald Davis

Donald Hugh Davis, 81, of Bridge City, died Saturday, December 22, 2018, at The Medical Center of Southeast Texas, Port Arthur. He was born October 31, 1937, in Beaumont, to Melonee Mae McMillian Davis and Eugene Powell Davis. Donald was a United States Army Veteran.

Don was a “rascal”. He was fun-loving and often mischievous. He loved life, adventure, and travel which he passed on to each of his kids. He taught his kids to seek knowledge, to work hard, and to be available for friends and family. By his example, they learned to stand strong for all things shall pass and the future always brings brighter days.

“Doc” could fix anything!!! It might not be pretty, but it would work and was functional. His tool of choice was a ball peen hammer which he always carried with him at work. You would find his first method of diagnosis was to tap on machinery before he ever began to tear into it. According to him, ninety percent of machinery could be fixed with a gentle tap to loosen rust and stuck parts. He was always available to offer support and help with whatever was needed. He was a little man with a big heart and would much rather help a friend than ask for help.

Donald graduated from Beaumont High School in 1956 and was a member of the Boulevard Boys. He attended Texas A&M University in College Station and Lamar State College in Beaumont. He first worked at his father’s grocery store – Calder Food Store — as a delivery boy. He later worked for the Texas Highway Department and DuPont Chemical in Beaumont. He retired from B.F. Goodrich/Polysar Rubber Division/Bayer Chemical/Lanxess in Orange where he worked as an Instrument Mechanic.

Donald was an active member of Beaumont’s Washington Blvd. Christian Church. He then acted as an Elder of University Christian Church in Beaumont for many years before moving to First Baptist Church in Port Neches and then to FBC in Nederland. He attended church later in his life at the Texas Airstream Harbor (TAHI) at Sam Rayburn where he was an active member of the Texas Gulf Coast Unit of the Wally Byam Caravan Club International. He previously spent time on TAHI’s board and helped maintain park facilities. He was also an active member of the Beaumont Ski Club where he performed in numerous ski shows. Other activities included, of course, travel, as well as snow skiing, volunteer fire dept., fishing, bicycling, and most anything involving adventure. He was a volunteer at Shangri La Botanical Gardens in Orange for many years where he served as a boat driver and worked in the greenhouse and wherever else needed.

Dad could always be found with his latest companion, Emma, his loving Bichon. He had a great love for dogs and was never long without one.

Survivors include his wife of sixty years, Rose Davis, of Bridge City; sons, Stephen Davis and his wife, Julie, of Nederland and Geoffrey Davis, of Bridge City; daughter, Karen Guidry, of Nederland; nine grandchildren, Stephen Travis Davis, Maj., USMC, Katie Miller, Amber Musco, Chad Davis, Nikki Davis, Tiffany Davis, Nicole Guidry, Cody Guidry, and Cole Guidry; and seven great-grandchildren, Lexi Miller, Claire Davis, William Musco, Halie Musco, Shayna Musco, Caden Parrott, and Colin Parrott.

He is preceded in death by his parents; brother, Horace Davis; and sisters, Patsy Kokenes and Dorothy Brown.

A gathering of Mr. Davis’ family and friends will begin at 12:00 p.m., with his funeral service at 2:00 p.m., Saturday, December 29, 2018, at Broussard’s, 505 North 12th Street, Nederland. A family committal will follow at Oak Bluff Memorial Park, Port Neches.