Sherman Davis Obituary

Sherman Davis

This obituary is of my great grandfather, Sherman H. “Johnny” Davis, and was featured in the May 6, 1992 edition of the Tyler (TX) Courier-Times:

Rites For S.H. ‘Johnny’ Davis Scheduled Thursday Afternoon

Graveside services for Sherman H. ‘Johnny’ Davis, 84, Tyler, are scheduled for 2 p.m. Thursday at Memorial Park Cemetery with the Rev. George Richardson officiating. Arrangements are under direction of Memorial Funeral Home West in Tyler.

Mr. Davis died Tuesday at his home after a lengthy illness.

He was born June 9, 1907, in Mexia and lived in Tyler 36 years after moving from Corpus Christi. He was a member of First Christian Church. He was retired after 42 years as a superintendent with Arco Oil Co. and was an independent oil operator. He acquired the nickname “Johnny” when he worked in the Texas oil fields at the age of 13.

Survivors include his wife, Dorothy Davis, Tyler; two sons, Woody Burl Davis, Hilltop Lake, and James Nead Davis, Robstown; two daughters, Annell Hargrave, Houston, and Virginia Bauer, McAllen; a step-daughter, Nancy Nash, Kent, Wash.; a sister, Erby K. Parsons, Corpus Christi; 12 grandchildren; two step-grandchildren; 23 great-grandchildren; and two step great-grandchildren.

Pallbearers will be Paul Hargrave, Patrick Davis, Johnny Davis, Michael Davis, Allen Davis, Michael Hargrave, John C. Burrett and Bobby Ray Harris.

Family visitation will be 7-8 tonight in the funeral home.

Many thanks to Barbara Galbreath of the Tyler (TX) Public Library for providing a copy of the obituary.

Brian Davis – James Michael Davis – James Nead Davis – Sherman H. Davis

My family and I took a recent road trip to Tyler, Texas. On the way, I took pictures of Pleasant Hill Cemetery, located southwest of Bullard, Texas on FM 2137.

Richard Ruel Tarrant, my 3rd great grand uncle, was born 8/13/1859 in Cherokee County, Texas.  Richard was 51 years-old at the time of his death. His gravesite, along with those of his wife, Melissa Gabrielle Tarrant (Cole), and several members of her family are located at Pleasant Hill Cemetery.

Brian Davis – James Michael Davis – James Nead Davis – Margie Leaine Davis (Kirkpatrick) – Woodie Tarrant Kirkpatrick – Mary Louise Oliphant/Kirkpatrick (Tarrant/sister of Richard Ruel Tarrant)

Sherman Harry Davis Pocket Watch

This pocket watch was given to me by my uncle, Sherman Patrick Davis, when I graduated from the University of Delaware in 1999.  It belonged to my great grandfather, Sherman Harry Davis.  He passed away 5/5/1992 in Tyler, Smith County, Texas.  I am lucky to have this among my family belongings.  I’ve kept it locked away for many years and will pass it down to my son when he graduates from Texas A&M University in 2027.  If you have any family treasures you’d like to contribute, please take a picture of the item and email it to me.

Brian Davis – James Michael Davis – James Nead Davis – Sherman Harry Davis

The tombstone featured this Tuesday is of my 3rd great grandmother, Eliza Ruth Gibson (Harris).   My wife and I visited her grave 2/09, on a road trip through northern Texas.  Eliza Ruth was born in 1839 in Washington County, Arkansas to Samuel and Jane Harris (Smith).   Her family moved to Cherokee County, Texas between 1844 and 1850.  She later married my 3rd great grandfather, Berrien Wylie Gibson, on 6/24/1858 in Tyler, Smith County, Texas.   They resided in Smith County, Texas until Berrien Wylie’s death in 1888.  She was later committed to the North Texas Hospital for the Insane (now the Terrell State Hospital) in Terrell, Kaufman County, Texas.  Eliza Ruth was a patient there from approx. 1900, until her death on 10/21/1920. 

Eliza Ruth Gibson Death Certificate

Her death certificate lists the cause of death as “Arteriosclerosis”, with “Insanity” as a contributing factor.  Due to privacy laws, I have been unable to obtain any of her patient information from the hospital or the state of Texas. 

She was buried in Wildwood Cemetery, located on the hospital grounds, in a numbered grave.  Through the generosity of donors and volunteers, the Wildwood Cemetery Association has placed a “dignified and permanent headstone inscribed with the name and dates of birth and death” on many of the graves, including Eliza Ruth’s.  Please click here to read more about the hospital, Wildwood Cemetery and the “Numbers to Names” campaign.

Brian Davis – James Michael Davis – James Nead Davis – Marjorie Leaine Davis (Kirkpatrick) – Burla Eugene Kirkpatrick (Gibson) – Eliza Ruth Gibson (Harris)