Gary DavisPonca City, OK

Gary Garland Davis

February 9, 1941 - March 17, 2025

Gary Garland Davis, 84, of Ponca City, Oklahoma, passed away March 17, 2025, after an eight-week fight with double pneumonia complicated by Covid.

A Celebration of Life will be held Tuesday March 25, at the First Christian Church of Ponca City at 1:00 pm.

Gary was an amazing storyteller, a loving husband, father, grandfather and great grandfather, a fine artist and dedicated to both his profession and his community.

He was born on February 9, 1941, in Blackwell, Oklahoma, to Virgil Christopher and Ruby Ann Herd Davis. Gary is survived by his wife of 25 years, Rebecca Fey Davis; daughter Cherokee Liles (Tony) of Ponca City, OK; daughter Shannon Harl (Bill) of Tomball, TX; son Dustin Davis (Nicole) of Green Cove Springs, FL; grandchildren Meghan, Mackenzie, Alyson, Allison, Daphne, William, Colton, Danielle, Bailey, Kenny (KJ) and Saylor; great-grandchildren Mila, Aubrey, Emily, Luke and Layla and sister Carolyn Sue Dye of Oklahoma City, OK.

Gary was preceded in death by his parents and his first wife of 37 years, Janet Armond Jones-Davis.

Gary grew up in Blackwell, OK, and survived driving straight into the 1955 tornado. He and sister Suzie helped their parents with the family-owned neighborhood grocery stores, wheat farming and gardening at the family farm.

He graduated Blackwell High School in 1959. His adventures there included a band trip to Washington, DC, and President Dwight Eisenhower’s Second Inaugural; countless drag races in his ’55 Chevrolet, (in his James Dean wannabe red nylon jacket with Lucky Strikes rolled up in white tee shirt sleeves) and Native American Demonstration Fancy Dance performances. His bond with his classmates lasted his lifetime.

Gary met and married his first love Janet while growing up in Blackwell. His education continued at Northern Oklahoma College and Oklahoma State University. In 1963, a career in engineering and manufacturing began and eventually took him and his family to Texas, New Mexico, California and finally Ponca City. In each place their children and their communities were the center of their lives. Their activities included Jaycees, Chamber of Commerce, their church and every conceivable youth activity from sports to dance. He was incredibly proud of his children and supported them in all their endeavors.

Gary and Janet embraced their Native American culture attending pow-wows all over the United States, entering art shows with native art and traveling to see the different native tribes and cultures. They had a retail store in Blackwell, OK selling Native American art. Gary was a member of the Ponca City Gourd Dancing Society.

In July of 2000, Gary married his second love and high school sweetheart, Rebecca Fey of Blackwell, OK, and made their home in Ponca City. Gary volunteered at Marland’s Children’s Home, and was a member of First Christian Church and the Couples Book Group. His painting became an important part of his retirement.

Another love of Gary’s life was his family farm. He worked to improve the land and built a cabin where he and Becky spent several months every year enjoying the sunrises and sunsets while gardening, reading, painting and hosting family and friends.

Gary and Becky shared their 25 years of marriage laughing, storytelling and dreaming. All of this, with their wishes and hopes, made the two of them one.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests contributions in Ponca City to First Christian Church or Marland Place in his memory.