Samuel Davis

MATOAKA – Samuel M. Davis, 93, of Matoaka, died Sunday, December 18, 2011. Born November 8, 1918 at Matoaka, he was the son of the late J.M. Davis and Lula B. Wheeler Davis. Mr. Davis operated J.M. Davis & Son Grocery in Matoaka from 1945-1985. He was a lifetime member of the Matoaka Methodist Church where he served on the Board of Directors, was a member of the choir and was a Sunday School teacher. He was a World War II veteran of the Army Air Force where he served as a sergeant and Link Trainer Instructor. He was a 50 year member of the Matoaka Kiwanis Club and was the longest serving member of the Matoaka Volunteer Fire Department where he served on the Board of Directors and as Assistant Fire Chief. He was a member of the Matoaka Town Council for more than 50 years. He was named West Virginia Citizen of the Year and presented a check in the amount of $5000 for the Town of Matoaka. In 2010 he was the co-Grand Marshal for the Matoaka Town Reunion. Over the decades he was awarded numerous awards and recognitions for his selfless service to the community and his church. He was known by friends and business owners alike as a pillar of the community and it is impossible to know how many lives he touched in his 93 years. His was truly a wonderful life. He was preceded in death by his wife of 57 years, Geraldine Straley Davis in 2009; two brothers, James W. Davis and Wilford Davis; and one sister, Maxine Evans. Survivors include two sisters, Sibyl Wright of Rock and Mary Jane Artrip and her husband Bob of Falls Mills, VA; one brother, Henry H. Davis and his wife Doris of Denver, CO; and many nieces and nephews. Funeral services will be conducted at 2:00 p.m. Thursday, December 22, 2011 at the Rowland H. Bailey Funeral Chapel of the Bailey-Kirk Funeral Home in Princeton with the Revs. Bill Crawford, David Damewood and David White officiating. Interment will follow at the Wesley Chapel Cemetery at Rock where military honors will be conducted by the Mercer County Veterans Council and the honor guard of the West Virginia National Guard. Nephews and men of the church will serve as pallbearers. Memorial contributions may be made to the Matoaka Methodist Church, c/o Doug Hawks, P.O. Box 177, Matoaka, WV 24736. Friends may visit from 6-8 p.m. Wednesday, December 21 at the Bailey-Kirk Funeral Home in Princeton. Online condolences may be sent to the family at www.bailey-kirk.com.

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Samuel Davis

December 18, 2011