Funeral services for Robert L. "Bob" Davis, 83, of Fairview, will be 10:30 am, Monday, April 14, 2008, at the First United Methodist Church of Fairview. The Reverend Richert Redinger will officiate. Burial will follow in the Fairview Cemetery. Arrangements are by Fairview Funeral Home, Inc.

Viewing will be at Fairview Funeral Home, Inc: 11:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Friday; 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Saturday and 1:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. Sunday.

Robert L. "Bob" Davis was born May 13, 1924 to Jacob and Emma (Wenger) Davis. He crossed over on April 9, 2008 after a prolonged struggle with complications from heart surgery.

Bob grew up in Isabella, Oklahoma where his parents owned the general mercantile, Farmer's Cash Produce, and attended what he always proudly called "a two room school house". After his parents moved to the farm he went to Fairview High where he played football and was in the band, graduating with the Class of '42.

In 1943, he married Velma Oneale, a union that was to last over 60 years until she was taken by cancer. This was a dark time for Bob.

Then in 2004 he married his cousin Mac's widow Kay Davis and together embarked on a new life of travel, adventure, good food and much laughter with a newly extended family. And, of course, feeding the cows.

As a young man, Bob worked as an automobile mechanic, but he found his career as an insurance adjuster. For some 30 years he climbed on roofs to inspect for storm damage, scrutinized cars banged up by accidents, hail or occasionally, ball peen hammers. He was a storm trooper to Louisiana after hurricanes where he discovered a fondness for zydeco music and crawfish etoufe.

Bob had a great sense of humor. He always climbed that instead of being born he was "accumulated out of a dust storm". In the twinkling of an eye and with an absolutely straight face he could have you believing the most outrageous yarn about herding bees on horseback or how a scissortail flycatcher really gets its prey. In cafes, he would often ask for grape pie, to the consternation of the waitresses. That is, until he found a place that actually served such a concoction. He invented Diet Soap ("Wash the Pounds Away"), but the fortune gained was lost in the failure of his Save the Big Rocks Foundation.

An accomplished amateur musician, Bob enjoyed playing the organ and has been known to be a mean hand on a washtub bass. Few would suspect and fewer knew that Bob was an award-winning poet. He was an avid gardener, birdwatcher and student of history, particularly that of his beloved Oklahoma. He always enjoyed a good western. High Noon with Gary Cooper was his favorite movie and he would read almost any musty paperback featuring a cowboy illustrated on the cover.

A child of the Great Depression, Bob knew the value of a dollar. He could haggle hard enough to make a Mexican street vendor weep. He bought his own coffin on tax-free day.

Bob professed a dislike for cats, but whenever he was around them one would always immediately find his lap where it would purr contentedly while the old guy absently stroked it while grumbling his distaste.

The mark of a man may be his accomplishments, but his measure is the kind of man he is. Those who knew Bob knew a gentleman, a genuine decent, honest hard-working man. A great guy.

He leaves behind his wife Kay, of the home; son Marc and wife Claudia and grandson Sam, all of Fairview; brother Cal and wife Nell of Fairview; nieces, a nephew and cousins/stepchildren/step grandchildren sufficient to confuse genealogists in years to come.

Memorials may be made to Major County Historical Society for the Centennial Park or the Fairview First United Methodist Church with Fairview Funeral Home, Inc acting as custodian of the funds.

Condolences may be made online at www.fairviewfuneralhomeinc.com .