Joe Don Davis

Joe Don Davis, age 80, of Benton, passed away Saturday, March 5, 2016. He was born May 25, 1935 in Baxter, Ark. Joe Don was a proud graduate of Bauxite High School and served in the U.S. Navy during the Korean War. He was a member of Holland Chapel Missionary Baptist Church, the Dwight Fite Sunday School Class and the Bauxite Old Timers. Joe Don retired from Entergy. Joe Don was one of the founding members of the Future Panther Football Program. He coached the Vikings Football Team from 1968 to 1998. Joe Don also coached Benton Baseball teams from Teeny League to American Legion and the Benton Shockers Softball Team. He was preceded in death by his parents, Mack and Mabel Webb Davis; granddaughter, Drew Melton; brother, Carroll Davis and his wife, Lavonda; and a niece, Deana Davis Clem. Joe Don is survived by his wife of 58 years, Mary McCutcheon Davis; three children: Greg Davis, Jerry Mack Davis, and Susan Davis, all of Benton; four grandchildren: Katie Nichols of Charlotte, N.C., Kristen and Dillon Davis, and Samantha Melton, all of Benton; his aunt, Orlean Shook and a host of nieces, nephews, friends and relatives. Pallbearers will be Ross Reeves, Lewis Greer, Pat Campbell, Nathan Curtis, Bob Tarver and Ronnie Lambert. Honorary pallbearers will be all the past Viking coaches and players from 1968 to 1998. Visitation will be 6 to 8 p.m., Tuesday, March 8 at Ashby Funeral Home. Funeral services will be 10:30 a.m., Wednesday, March 9 at Ashby Funeral Home with burial at Social Hill Cemetery. Bro. Jason Tallent, Bro. Nick Calaway and Coach Dwight Fite will be officiating. Family Comments: The family would like to thank Dr. C. D. Williams and the wonderful, caring nurses on the third floor of the Arkansas Heart Hospital. Also, the family would like you to know that Joe Don's Legacy wasn't about all the wins and championships. It was about all the lives he touched by coaching ALL the kids. He made it a POINT to make sure all of his players felt like they were part of the team. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to the Drew Melton Memorial Scholarship Fund, c/o Blind Illusions @ 19863 I-30 Suite 5 in Benton, AR 72015 or the Bauxite Historical Association Museum @ P.O. Box 245 in Bauxite, AR 72011. Online guest book at www.ashbyfuneralhome.com.