Raymond Howell Davis

December 14, 1969 ~ December 17, 2007
Resided in:
Asheville, NC
Asheville – Raymond H. Davis, 38, died unexpectedly Monday, December 17, 2007 at his residence.
A native of Memphis, Tennessee, he was the son of the late Howell Jr. Davis and Demetra Ann Stice. Ray was a lineman with Pike Electric.
He is survived by his wife, Crystal Cox Davis of Henderson, Tenn.; two sons, Zachary Davis, Timothy Davis; two step children, Lee Matthews, Jr. and Justin Matthews and his first wife Carolyn Reed. Also surviving are three sisters, Barbara Chambers of Asheville, Linda Reynolds of Munford, Tenn., and Brenda Powell of Bartlett, Tenn.; a brother, David Davis of Memphis, Tenn.; six step-brothers; four step-sisters; Ray’s step-father, William Stice of Arlington, Tenn. and four grandchildren.
Memorials may be made to Breast Cancer Research.
Dear Brother Bear,
I owe you a rescue, but it seems I’m not going to be able to repay that debt. I think I also owe you a hundred bucks on a factious tag bet. I’m not going to be able to pay you for that one either.
I’m sitting here thinking about you, as I’ve done often since Sharon called me on Monday. At first, I thought, “No.†Then, I thought, “Bad joke. Ray can’t be gone.†Then, mostly, I’ve simply thought about you and how often you come up in my life, even though I’m just a peripheral person, not really a player on your board … just an observer. And I’ve realized just how much a part of my speak, my questions, my curiosity, my life, you’ve become. Or, I suppose it would be more grammatically correct to say that you “had becomeâ€.
I should say I will remember you fondly, but I’ve decided to remember you fiercely. You weren’t always easy to be around, but you were more often than not incredibly clever. I could appreciate your cleverness, even when I was trying to recover from it. I can now appreciate your bite because you were the first person to say, “Bite back.†I can’t confess to understanding you. I will be the first to admit that you were complicated beyond my experience of you; my exposure to you didn’t allow a knowledge of you. I think you were in pain. I hope, beyond hope, that the pain now is gone. I hope, beyond hope, that you have found peace.
You still owe me karaoke on Tuesday. You still owe me a drink for my birthday. You still are someone I will remember every time I see or hear “Hot Springsâ€. I will think of you every time I see a forest fire … and maybe just a campfire. You are as handsome a man as I’ve seen and I’m sorry that anyone made you think you weren’t. I’m also sorry I didn’t say that to you when it might have mattered. You can dance. You can sing. You can love. You are someone I will always remember with a smile, a laugh, and more than just a passing sadness that you’re gone.
When my brother died, I mourned. But what saddened me most, other than the immediate loss, was that he might be forgotten. That he hadn’t had enough time on this earth to have marked the people who knew him. Know that you will not be forgotten. In the wind, in the fire, in the most simple rites of living life you will be remembered. Not for what you might have been, but for what you are … for what you were ‒ quite brilliantly you.
Rest now, Brother Bear. I’ll do my best to take care of Sharon. I love her, too. Not like you loved her, but friendship, as I wish I had shown you, is a fierce bond.
Love,
Melissa
Ray:
I know signing this guestbook is mostly for the benefit of those of us who are left behind. I feel in my heart that you are in Heaven with your mother who you missed so much. Now I miss you both. Even though we were no longer married, we did still have conversations about the boys, and you could always make me laugh.
I met Sharon. I think under different circumstances, she and I could have been friends. We seem a lot alike. She told me that you never had anything bad to say about me, and I appreciate that. She said that she knew from you that I was a good singer and a good cook. I think those are 2 things nice to be known for.
I see you in the boys…more now than I did before. So know this…that you are still here…in the hearts and memories of those who love you…and in your two boys, Zachary and Timothy…your living legacy.
Forever and ever, Amen…
Carolyn
I will miss so many things about you, but the one thing I will miss the most is your sense of humor, and the wisdom of many conversations we had…
At this time I am to sad to put down all the words I would like to say, but I know anyone who really knew you, knew who you were really were.
I love you,
Barbara (big sis)
I don’t know where to begin. I miss you each and every day. I miss spending time with you and talking with you. We had Christmas dinner at Aunt Opal’s on Sunday and I thought of you all day. I know you had wanted to be there, you loved our country cooking. You will never be forgotten, and you will have a special place in my heart forever and always.
I still think of you everyday Ray, and miss you so much… It is still to sad to find the words… Love you…