Paul Davis

Paul was born on Feb, 24, 1929, in Bethany Oklahoma. He was the eleventh and final child of the Rev. H. H. and Vina Davis. Paul was preceded in death by his parents, his first wife, Patricia (Crittenden) Davis, five sisters and three brothers. Survivors include his wife of 39 years, Irene Davis of the home, two sisters-Mildred Cowles of California and Lucille Exum of California, his sons Paul Davis, Jr. (Butch) and wife Tammy of Chapel Hill N. C., John Eccles of Norman, OK, James Eccles and wife Cindy of Broken Arrow OK. He is also survived by his daughter Pam (Davis) Parkerson and husband J.D. of Vinita Ok, and Linda (Eccles) Aldridge and husband Mike of Alexandria Va. He is also survived by eight grandchildren: Jay Aldridge and wife Jen, Scott Aldridge, Jody Parkerson , Grady Parkerson , Drew Davis, John, Tyler and Rebecca Eccles. One great-grandchild, Michael Aldridge. Paul attended schools in several states growing up before the family finally settled in Springdale, Arkansas. He graduated from Springdale High School in 1947 and Northeastern State University in Tahlequah in 1952. While attending NSU, he became a four-year letterman in football and boxing. He was a member of the NSU boxing Team that won a State Championship in 1950. He was a state finalist in the Oklahoma Golden Gloves Boxing tournament in 1950 and the Eastern District Golden Gloves Champion in 1951. Also in 1951, he was co-captain, All Conference and leading scorer of the Redmen Football team, and a member of the 1952 Oklahoma Intercollegiate Conference Champion Redmen Football Team. Sports continued to be an important part of Paul's life. He was an avid golfer, golfing from Virginia, to Hawaii and everywhere in between. He was a member of the Springdale Country Club for 30 years and served on the Board of Directors several times. He was a well respected football coach and school administrator in the Grove, Bixby and Collinsville School districts for 37 years. Among his achievements he was most proud of being inducted into 5 Athletic Halls of Fame. In 1993, he was inducted into the Northeastern State University Athletic Hall of Fame. Grove Oklahoma placed him into the Ridgerunner Hall of Fame in 1997. He was given the Oklahoma Coaches Association Hall of Fame Distinguished Service Award in 2004. In 2006, he was inducted into both the Bixby High School of Hall of Fame and the Springdale High School Hall of Fame. He served in the United States Navy from 1948 to 1949. In 1991, he retired and returned to Springdale where he continued to golf, travel, and entertain his friends and family with his wit and wisdom. He was loved by many and will be missed by all who knew him. Funeral services will be Monday, 9 a.m. at First Church of the Nazarene in Fayetteville with Pastor Heath Kelly officiating. Burial will be in the Bluff Cemetery. Visitation will be on Sunday, from 2 to 4pm at Sisco Funeral Chapel in Springdale. Memorials may be made to Northeastern State University Football Program, 600 N. Grand Ave. Tahlequah, OK 74464.

Paul Davis

February 24, 1929 - October 14, 2011