(Originally posted on Facebook by Mary Ellen Davis)
A tribute to my son Richard T Davis who passed away today of a terrible fast acting bacteria.
I just want you to know how much I value you as a son. I remember the day you were born on August 2nd 1968. We still lived at 1006 E. Boise Ave. You weighed 7 pounds and 12 ounces at birth 21 inches long. They held you up for me to see and I just remember those brushy kind of eyebrows but other than that you looked just like your older brother. You were the first of the next five children to be born in Boise. Growing up you were the scrawny little kid. I used to have to coach you to smile. You were the first one of our kids to go to Garfield instead of Campus school when we moved to 456 Fall Dr. Then you were the first one to have to be transferred to North Junior High instead of East Junior High. But you all ended up at Boise High School and graduated there. It was dad’s old alma mater. Then the years on the Mesa, the paper routes, your first purchase of a dirtbike made with payments, the car accidents, drum lessons and the surprise gift of a drum set at Christmas. Then marching band, football games and competition and always trying to beat your record in cross country. Then graduation, drum scholarship to BYU, lessons with Ron Brough, marching band, followed by a Kentucky mission and returning to BYU and playing the steel drums. How fascinating it was to watch you and hear that kind of music. Your aspiration was in health and medicine and by sheer will, study, and perseverance you got into medical school, and back to Kentucky. Then marriage to Tami, beautiful backyard wedding and the beginning of a family. How fun to watch you grow with your family and become Dr. Richard Davis. The times we visited you during school, residency, and military assignment. How successful you have become as Dr. Davis in your community. And more importantly your growth in the gospel, strength in your spiritual testimony and your example in teaching your sons by word and deed of being a follower of Jesus Christ. You have become a devoted husband, father, and son, caring for your own dad in his time of need. Now I have memories of coming to your home, making salsa together, planting tomatoes together, bike riding together, and riding around your property for you to show me all you have done to improve and make it beautiful. Your beautiful trees, fruit trees, and landscaping. Sharing family times, babysitting and watching those handsome and bright sons growing into men. I treasure these memories. You are now the proud father of sons as your dad is of you. May you rest in peace and with your Dad become our guardian angels until we meet again.
