Terry L. Davis
September 30, 2009
Terry, 68, passed away peacefully on September 30 at Taylor House after a courageous, nine-year battle with Multiple Myeloma under the incredible care of Dr. Tom Buroker and his staff at John Stoddard.
Visitation will be held Friday, October 2 from 6-8 p.m. at Lutheran Church of the Cross in Altoona. Funeral services will follow on Saturday, October 3 at 10:00 a.m., also at Lutheran Church of the Cross. Terry will then be laid to rest at Altoona Cemetery. A celebration gathering will be held on the 4th floor Prairie Meadows Club House following the graveside service.
Terry was born June 16, 1941 in rural Adair County, spent his youth on the Davis family Century Farm, and graduated from Bridgewater-Fontanelle High School in 1959. Terry was a plumber by trade, beginning his career with Langdon Porter Plumbing and Heating and later Rhiner Brother's Plumbing while serving as a part time Altoona police officer. In 1976, Terry became founder and co-owner of R&D Plumbing in Altoona until his retirement in 2001. He was also a member of both the local and National Homebuilder's Associations.
Terry led an active civic life, as he received the Altoona Jaycees Distinguished Service Award, chaired the Altoona Planning and Zoning Commission, served on the Board of Directors for Bank Iowa of Altoona, and was recognized often by Southeast Polk Community Schools for his dedication and generosity. Terry was also instrumental in the success of Prairie Meadows Racetrack and Casino since its inception in the early 1980s and served on the Board of Directors for nine years.
Terry had a love and appreciation for the outdoors and was an avid and skilled hunter who shared his southwest Iowa hunting lodge with the guys. He also enjoyed fresh and salt water fishing, bird watching, and mushroom hunting.
He will be greatly missed by his wife of 49 years, Beth (Purdy) Davis, his daughters Lori (Larry) Lipscomb of Johnston, Stacie (Joe) Horton of Altoona, his grandchildren Anna, LJ, Davis, Cole and Jackson. He is also survived by his mother, Letha Davis of Greenfield, brother, Russell Davis of Greenfield and his sister Kathy (Larry) Strom of Phoenix, Arizona. His extended family includes cousins Sherry (Link) Soule, Dee (Butch) Edmonds, Debbie (Bill) Talbert as well as many nieces and nephews. The large Davis and Purdy families are left to cherish his memory and celebrate his life.
Memorial contributions may be made in Terry's name to the following organizations:
Caring Hands Outreach Center, 201 9th Street NE, Altoona, Iowa 50009, or Taylor House 3401 E. Douglas Avenue, Des Moines, Iowa 50317.
www.HamiltonsFuneralHome.com
Teri (Schuessler) Sutton
10/03/2009
Beth, Lori, Stacie and families,
I was so sorry to hear about Terry's passing. We so enjoyed when he and Bill would come out to our ranch and hunt. I don't know who was more excited the year Terry shot his antelope with a bow and arrow; Terry, because he was so proud, or us because we thought he was crazy for trying.
It was important to us that he had a good hunt, because we wanted them both to come back each year. I remember when I was putting an addition on our home, and Terry was such a trooper to be up on the walls helping to set the trusses (in the South Dakota wind no less). I think of Terry often.
Please know you are in my thoughts and prayers.
Teri (Schuessler) Sutton