E. (Elvy) Gene Davis, longtime Winnemucca resident, died on Sept. 18, 2014, of cancer at his home surrounded by his family.
Gene was born in Commerce, Okla., on Dec. 16, 1927, to Mary Louise Houser Davis and Otto Davis, but was a true Nevadan having arrived in Jarbidge, Nev., when he was 18 months old.
He had lived mostly in Winnemucca, but also in Lovelock, Babbitt, Las Vegas and Reno.
He graduated Humboldt County High School and with an Associates Degree from Boise Junior College. After college, he worked in auto body repair and had his own shop in Lovelock for a while. He later worked as an electrician in Babbitt and wired houses in Henderson, Nev.
In 1954, he moved to Reno to be with the love of his life, Inez Sarasua, who was attending the University of Nevada. They were married in June of that year in Winnemucca and they recently celebrated 60 years of a loving marriage.
The couple went to live in Reno where Gene again worked at auto body repair, some of the time with his high school friend, Vance Nelson, at his Reno Auto Body Shop. While there he was offered a job as an insurance adjuster for Farmers Insurance Group.
In 1965, Gene bought the Winnemucca Farmer Insurance office and moved his family, which now included four kids, back to Winnemucca. The Davis Insurance Agency will soon celebrate 50 years as a family business, now run by his son, Alan Davis and his daughter, Alicia Davis Cramer. Lyle Davis retired from the business in 2007.
Retiring in 1990 as an insurance agent and broker, Gene could devote his time to his passions - his family, hunting, and fishing. He was a consummate and avid fisherman and the garage houses the antlers from many a hunt by him and his family.
Gene was active with Winnemucca Lions Club for 47 years. He served as chairman for the their Boy Scout Troop for many years and lovingly installed Life Line monitors for senior citizens sponsored by the Lions.
He was dearly loved by his family- his wife, Inez, and four children, Lyle, Alan (wife Lisa) and Alicia Cramer (husband Martin) of Winnemucca and Tim (wife Adrian) of Carson City, granddaughter Jessica Shields McGregor and husband Ian and their six daughters, Abigail, Genevieve, Lillian, Olivia, Scarlette and Willa of Hooper, Wash.; granddaughter Samantha Dahmen of Clarkston, Wash.; grandaughter Micalya Detrick and her husband Ryan of Winnemucca; granddaughter Kaitlin Cramer of Rapid City, S.D.; grandson Ben Cramer of Winnemucca, grandson Erin Cramer (Karen) and their sons, Alex and Nolan of Stayton, Ore.; and granddaughters Anna and Amaya Davis, students at UNR.
He is also survived by his sister, Frances Davis of Las Vegas; his sister-in-law Mary Davis of Carson City; niece Dorette Caldana, nephew Michael Davis; brother-in-law Robert Sarasua of Carson City; brother-in-law Scott Gordon of Las Vegas; and step-nieces Michele, Deborah and Jennifer and step-nephew Dale Gordon. His parents, his brother Glenn Davis and step-sister Jacquelin Gordon predeceased him.
The family would like to express their thanks to Dr. Leonard Perkinson and Dr. Richard Bessette and Hospice director Sherry Smith for their help and counsel.
A Celebration of Life will be held Oct. 4, 2014, from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. at Alan and Lisa's home at 5279 Offenhauser Dr., Winnemucca for all who knew Gene.
If you wish, donate to a charity of your choice or to the NRA to which Gene was a devoted lifelong member.[[In-content Ad]]
