Thomas Ray "Tom" Davis

Thomas Ray “Tom” Davis, formerly of Groesbeck, passed away on Monday, October 5, 2026, at Avir Nursing Home in Bellmead, at age 87.

A Memorial Service and graveside services at Fort Parker cemetery are being planned and will be announced on the website at a later date.

Tom was born February 3, 1939, to James and Fanny Davis, in Lorena, where he grew up and attended school.

Tom joined the U. S. Navy in 1958 and completed his service in the Reserves until his honorable discharge.

Tom was united in marriage with Shirley Beaver on August 23, 1967, in Waco. Their wedding was held in the hospital where her brother-in-law Frank was confined, so his sister, Joyce could be her Maid of Honor and Frank could be the Best Man.

Tom and Shirley made their home in Robinson and he worked for Johnson Roofing. One of the big jobs in his roofing career was installing the duct work in the Ferrell Center when it was constructed.

Shirley wanted to move back to her hometown of Groesbeck when their daughter Beth was first beginning school, and they lived just across from the school grounds (which tempted Beth to run off from school and go home a few times.) Tom changed from traveling back and forth to Waco for work and went to work in the Juvenile Probation Department for Limestone County. After a serious attack from some of the detainees which put him in the hospital, Tom changed jobs to work at the LCDC prison in Groesbeck as a guard. He also drove the prison transport bus and then worked in the laundry before retiring in 2012.

Tom’s wife Shirley passed away in 2000 and while he was a proud Daddy, he missed his wife deeply. His favorite pastimes included going out to eat, watching Westerns on TV, and his grandchildren. He moved to Livingston where Beth and Shane and their family lived and loved to hang out with the 4 grandsons. He insisted on being independent, but after falling and health problems, he resided in the nursing home in Livingston a few years, and for the last 5 years in Bellmead.

Tom was preceded in death by his parents; his brother, Jim Davis; and his wife Shirley in 2000; brother-in-law, Fred Dawley; and sister-in-law, Pat (Wilson) Beaver.

He is survived by his daughter and son-in-law, Elizabeth Kay “Beth” and Shane Reed of Dawson; grandsons, Damien Reed of Huntsville, Hayden Davis, Dominick Reed and Marshall Reed, all of Dawson; his sister and brother-in-law, Joyce and Frank Browder of Lorena; sister-in-law, Kay Dawley of Groesbeck; brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law, James and Gerry Beaver of Stephenville and Bob and Nelda Beaver of Waxahachie; and nieces and nephews.