Billy Dale Davis

July 30, 1926 — October 25, 2018

Billy Dale Davis passed into the joy of heaven on Oct 25, 2018 after a full and blessed life. Billy was born on July 30, 1926 to Everett and Daisy (Pendergraft) Davis. Billy graduated from Kirksville High School in 1944, and then was very proud to be a member of the US Navy in World War II (as a gunman on the destroyer USS William M Wood). Returning to Kirksville and the Kirksville State Teachers College (now Truman State), he earned several degrees, the last being his MA in Music Education in 1958.

Bill met his wife Jane Motter in Edina where his notable teaching career began. They were married on June 20, 1953 and moved to Corydon, Iowa for an additional 35 years of teaching instrumental music and several years of vocal music.

Billy’s career was outstanding! He was highly respected by the community and his students. Mr Davis’s programs included marching band, concert band, jazz band, stage band, pep band, solos and groups in festivals and annual contests. He also directed the popular summer band concerts on the Corydon town square.

Through the years, Billy was active in church, often serving as a teacher, deacon, choir director, leader of Senior Adult Ministries and many committees. He enjoyed time in the Rotary Club and presenting papers in Friday Club. Other areas of activity included golfing, hunting, fishing and gardening. After retirement to Kirksville, Missouri, he took up woodcarving, which gave him much satisfaction and many awards. His final years were lived out in the Des Moines, Iowa area.

There is so much more about Billy’s life that cannot be contained in this single document. The real joy in his life has come from their five children, all who were born while living in Corydon. They and their spouses are, Doug and Vivian (Bennett) Davis, Susan and Bob Downey, Jana and Hal Turner, David and Allison (Sternberg) Davis, and Scott and Ann (Harrison) Davis.

There are 16 grandchildren and a yet to be determined number of great grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents, his in-laws Joe and Flora Motter, and one grandson, Thad Turner.

To celebrate a life well lived, friends are invited to meet with family at the Davis-Playle-Hudson-Rimer Funeral Home for a Memorial Service at Noon on Monday, Oct 29 followed by a lunch and more reminiscing at the family center for relatives and friends.

The family will go to the Highland Park Cemetery at 11am for the burial.

In lieu of flowers, memorials could be sent to: Corydon Music Boosters, c/o Wayne Community Schools, 102 N. Dekalb Street, Corydon, IA 50060 or Wayne County Historical Society, PO Box 104, Corydon, IA 50060.

Arrangements under the direction of Davis-Playle-Hudson-Rimer Funeral Home, 2100 E. Shepherd Ave., Kirksville, MO 63501; www.davisplaylehudsonrimer.com.

To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Billy Dale Davis, please visit our flower store.

Service Schedule

Past Services

Memorial Service

Monday, October 29, 2018

Starts at 12:00 pm (Central time)

Davis-Playle-Hudson-Rimer Funeral Home

2100 East Shepherd Avenue, Kirksville, MO 63501

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Billy Dale Davis

July 30, 1926 — October 25, 2018

Service Schedule

Past Services

Memorial Service

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