Carl Link Davis

Carl Link Davis, a longtime resident of Cleveland, Oklahoma passed from this life on Wednesday, January 7, 2015 at the Jack C. Montgomery VA Medical Center at the age of 92 years and five days. Carl was born in Wynnewood, Oklahoma on January 2, 1923. He was the only son of Carl Carlton and Nettie Mae (Minix) Davis. At a young age Carl moved with his parents near Jennings, Oklahoma. The family later moved to Texas during the Great Depression to find work. However, with the widespread depression they soon returned to the Terlton Area. During his time growing up Carl helped his family work, farm and drove a truck to help make ends meet. At the age of 12, Carl purchased his first car which was a 1927 Dodge touring car for six dollars. After the purchase of his first car Carl began a lifetime of collecting automobiles. On October 26, 1940 Carl was united in marriage to Mary Etta Friend in Hominy, OK. They had four children and raised them in Cleveland. During the onset of World War II, Carl Davis was inducted into the United States Navy on December 23, 1943. Following completion of basic training in San Diego, California; Carl was stationed on the USS Alkes. The crater class cargo ship was responsible for delivering troops, goods and equipment to locations in the war zone. On January 11, 1946, Carl Davis was honorably discharged. During his time in the military he obtained the following decorations and citations: World War II - Victory Medal, American Area Campaign Medal and the Asiatic-Pacific Area Campaign Medal. Upon his return to the Cleveland Area in 1960, Carl was united in marriage to Agnes M. ìBobbieî Janes. The couple remained in Cleveland operating their business side by side. Automobiles were a passion of Carlís. His main choice of autos was Fords. Carl grew up during one of the hardest eras the United States has ever witnessed. He was very thankful for all he had collected through the years. Carl was a man of many talents. He owned his own plumbing business, leather shop, sand plant, concrete company, and built the Tiger Memorial Stadium along with many other stadiums in several states. Carl was baptized on March 29, 1959 at the First Christian Church in Cleveland. Carl was a part of the first group of veterans to participate in the ìHonor Flightî. The group takes veterans on a day tour of the war memorials in Washington, D.C. To date, the Oklahoma Honor Flight has taken 1,765 veterans on 19 flights. Survivors are his three sons, Carl "Sailor" Davis, Jr. of Arkansas City, Kansas, Larry Davis and his wife Cynthia of Collinsville, Oklahoma, and Rick Davis and his wife Dawn of Sand Springs, Oklahoma; daughter, Joyce Merriman and her husband Gary of Langley, Oklahoma, Grandchildren are: Shane Merriman and his wife Kim of Pawley's Island, South Carolina, Cody Merriman and his wife Libby of Cleveland, Oklahoma, Kristy Loney and her husband Brent of Ponca City, Oklahoma, Jody Storz of Phoenix, Arizona, Justin Davis and his wife Shelley of Cleveland, Oklahoma, Garry Davis and his wife Melissa of Broken Arrow, Oklahoma, Link Davis and his wife Kristie of Sapulpa, Oklahoma; Zach Davis and his wife Christy of Bartlesville, Oklahoma; great grandchildren Amanda Black, Ashley Johnson and her husband Mike, Hunter S Storz, Addison Storz, Kayla Marano, Bryleigh Davis, Lilly Davis, Beau Davis, Corbyn Davis, Nicole Davis, Christopher Davis, Kaden Davis, Lauren Davis, Brooklyn Davis, Kaylee Merriman, Kaden Merriman, Kyle Merriman, Caleb Merriman, Braedon Merriman; great great grandchildren Princeton Black and Jaxon Davis, mother of his children Mary Etta Davis and a host of other relatives and friends. He was preceded in death by wife Bobbie M. Davis of January 15, 1995, father Carl Carlton Davis and mother Nettie Mae Davis (Minnix). Services were held on Monday, January 12, 2015, at the First Christian Church in Cleveland, Oklahoma with David Logsdon officiating. Services were under the direction of Chapman-Black Funeral Home.