Leon Davis

Hastings resident, Leon W. Davis, 91, passed away Wednesday, March 23, 2011 at Perkins Pavilion Good Samaritan Society-Hastings Village in Hastings, Nebraska.

There will be a celebration of Leon's life and Masonic Rites on Tuesday, March 29, 2011; 3:00 P.M. at Masonic auditorium with Pastor Clint Bieri officiating. Following the celebration of life there will be a "final ballroom dance" in the lower level of the Masonic Building. His friends are invited to honor him as a Hastings College ensemble plays memorable WWII dance tunes to close with a final waltz in honor of Leon and his life mate Loraine. Private family burial will be in Parkview Cemetery, Hastings, Nebraska. Visitation will be Monday, March 28, 2011; 4:00 P.M. - 9:00 P.M. at the funeral home and Tuesday, March 29, 2011 one hour prior to service at the Masonic auditorium. Memorials may be given to the Leon W. Davis Trust.

Born in the family home in Hastings, Leon experienced a youth in the Great Depression, volunteered into the U. S. Navy during WWII, enjoyed a career as a chemical engineer then came back to Hastings to complete his life. November 1919 was an exciting time in Hastings and the United States as Leon entered the community as the second of two children of Joseph M. Davis and Elsie F. Davis. He received his education through Hastings Public Schools. One of his memorable childhood tales of fact was locating hidden stolen money from the great Hastings bank robbery of 1931. He excelled in tennis playing for Hastings High and the University of Nebraska. In a musical family, he played flute well though he used his skills with UNL to become Drum Major of the marching band. Fittingly he led the Husker band in the only Rose Bowl appearance to date in 1941. Graduating with a degree in chemical engineering he went to wartime work with Monsanto Chemical Company. Working in West Virginia he earned a private pilot's license, a process of pleasant tales of flying in the days of compass and dead reckoning navigation. It was wartime and although "exempt" with a critical job classification, Leon, like so many of his contemporaries waived his exemption, joining the Navy. But that was after meeting his life mate Loraine in St Louis where he had been transferred to another wartime critical chemical plant of Monsanto's. Leon was posted in the Pacific on the largest type of wood ship, a "PC" (patrol craft), returning with memorable stories of the wartime Pacific. Post war Leon continued his career as an engineer and enjoying a family of three sons with Loraine. His professional record promoted him into an entirely new field of polycarbonate plastics seen in use today. As his family developed, they lived in West Virginia, Ohio and Pennsylvania. Leon's favorite job was Plant Manager for four years of the huge Bayer chemical facility in New Martinsville, West Virginia. Through the years Leon assured his sons knew Hastings, learned of the pioneer roots of immigrants settling Nebraska in 1880 and learned a life of service and responsibility. Leon retired as a Bayer company executive to return to his beloved Hastings in 1980 to assist his mother running Cornhusker Realty. During the next 25 years he lived and served the Hastings and Adams County community until retiring during 2008 in Hastings. During his active years he was elected to two terms as city councilman, served nine years on the Little Blue District Board, volunteered with Mary Lanning Memorial Hospital and devoted uncountable time with his beloved Masonic brotherhood. Leon saw "Shriner's" nationwide, no cost pediatric hospitals among his favorite charities and locally assured the continuing children's hearing clinic in the Hastings Masonic Lodge building. In 1979, following a disastrous downtown Hastings block leveling explosion and fire, Leon was one of several business people who committed to redeveloping the central core of Hastings. The historic Cameron building on First and Hastings was repaired and continues today as a testament of his love for Hastings. His humor and genuine interest in people mark conversations of him today. Physical activity was important to Leon. He continued playing tennis until health issues focused his activity to golf. He remains one of the few local "golfer extraordinaire" designees by his fellow golfers. Although champion in his "flight" at Lochland he is best remembered for his immortalized tee shot that took flight and hit a bird in flight across the fairway. His companions refused to grant him a "birdie" and threatened to notify the game warden of his bird hunting out of season. Leon's love, Loraine died in 1997. His three sons survive him. Joe, a physician executive at Mary Lanning, currently lives in Hastings with his wife Florance. Tim lives in the Dayton Ohio area working with county government in a management position with his wife Pat, a public school teacher. Tom, a retired Marine Corps pilot, now flies internationally for FedEx and lives in North Carolina with his wife Cathy. Those around Leon in his final months at Good Samaritan Village were well informed of his family and their exploits. Of course the listener was almost always asked and advised to "ballroom" dance as that was a favorite activity for Leon and Loraine. Leon's family reflects the example and mentoring of service to community and devotion to family. Among eleven grandchildren and four great grandchildren he watched dedicated church service as a focus for many. Others serve or served in the U.S. military organizations and government agencies. The public and church activities find some of the grandchildren celebrating his life on different continents as Leon closes his legacy.

Leon was preceded in death by his parents; wife, Loraine Davis; and sister, Marcelle Oldaker.

Survivors include:
Sons: Dr. Joe & Florance Davis - Hastings, NE
Tim & Pat Davis - Dayton, OH
Tom & Cathy Davis - New Bern, NC
Grandchildren & Spouses: Major U.S. Army Joseph M. Davis & Renea Davis - Omaha, NE
Carolyn & Jim Chipman - Lorton, VA
Lisa (RN) & Darrell Keill - Powell, WY
Christina & Pastor Clint Bieri - Columbus, OH
Elizabeth Davis - Guatemala
Sarah & Justin Pickle - Dayton, OH
David Davis - Dayton, OH
Eric Hamm - Winston Salem, NC
Jennifer Davis (RN) - Aspen, CO
Mary Davis - New Bern, NC
Matthew & Brenda Sue Davis - Alexandria, VA
Great-Grandchildren: Joseph Davis - Omaha, NE
Aurora Chipman - Lorton, VA
Piper Keill - Powell, WY
Gabriel Keill - Powell, WY
Lisa (RN) and Darrell, Piper, and Gabriel Keill are living in Hastings while Darrell completes his degree at Hastings College.