Davis, Carleton

Carleton Davis

Service: Have been held.

Carleton Davis, 87, of Clovis died Friday, March 12, 2004, at Plains Regional Medical Center.

He was born on Sept. 3, 1916 in Leavenworth, Kan., to Ira and Grace Davis.

The family moved to Clovis in 1923. Family members said he supported himself by selling shoes and hopped a train once to visit a girl friend. He took his bar exam, then in World War II became a bomber pilot. He returned to Clovis to start a law practice. He married Loretta Edwards in 1959, retired from law in the 1960s, and bought a Dr. Pepper bottling plant in Clovis. He eventually bought several bottling plants in Mississippi, Texas, Albuquerque, Clovis and Amarillo.

A member of St. James Episcopal Church, he was instrumental in its construction. He was a supporter of Clovis Community College.

Survivors include his wife, Loretta of the home; a son, Ron (and wife, Linda) Bell of Wichita Falls, Texas; four daughters, Jackie Petty of Reno, Nev., Jimmie (Gary) Smith of Dennison, Texas, Nancy (Jesse) Johnson of Marietta, Ga., and Penny Davis of Corsicana, Texas; 11 grandchildren and 11 great-grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his parents, a sister, Gretchen Jones, and a grandson, Michael Baley.

The Rev. John Rollinson will officiate at the service. Cremation has taken place.

Burial will be at Fort Sumner Cemetery.

Honorary pallbearers are Harold Widner, Richard Rowley, Don Bonner, Don Brumfield, David Wootton, Ron Bell, Harry Davis, John Perez, Travis Denton, Dr. Michele DeMaio, and Jim Hart.

Memorial contributions may be made to St. James Building Fund, 1117 N. Main, Clovis, NM 88101, or The Baptist Children’s Home, 1032 Childrens Drive, Portales, NM 88130.

Arrangements are by Muffley Funeral Home of Clovis.