Thornton "Ted" Davis II

Thornton "Ted" Davis, II, age 93, retired farmer and rancher, died Wednesday, September 20, 2017, at his residence on Candlewood Court. Funeral services will be conducted Sunday at 2:00 P.M. at New Lasea Church of Christ with David Langley, Carl May, and Kenny McFarlen officiating. Burial will follow in Rose Hill Cemetery with military honors provided by Herbert Griffin American Legion Post 19. The family will visit with friends Saturday from 4:00 - 6:00 P.M. at Oakes & Nichols Funeral Home and Sunday from 1:00 - 2:00 P.M. at New Lasea Church of Christ. The family suggests memorials to Maury County Needy Veterans, 308 West Seventh Street, Columbia, TN 38401 or New Lasea Church of Christ, c/o Billy Caldwell, 1600 Rock Springs Road, Columbia, TN 38401. Condolences may be extended online at www.oakesandnichols.com. Born July 21, 1924, in Salem, Massachusetts, he was the son of the late John Farwell Anderson Davis and the late Marjorie Abbott Thomas Davis. He spent his early years in Massachusetts where he attended Middlesex School in Concord. At the age of eighteen, he volunteered to help our country in time of war, and served four years in the U. S. Army, serving in the Battle of the Bulge during World War II. Mr. Davis attended the New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology. He ranched and worked in oil fields for several years. After moving to Mississippi, he farmed for forty-seven years and was former president of Tippah River Drainage District. He was a member of the Disabled Veterans of America and the Sons of the American Revolution. He was a member of New Lasea Church of Christ and formerly served as an elder at Berea Church of Christ. Survivors include his wife of sixty-five years, Bonnie Upton Davis of Columbia; daughters, Bonnie Davis (Hugh) Langley of Columbia; Elizabeth Davis Lee of Cabot, Arkansas, Mary Davis (Art) Loftin of Columbia; grandchildren, David Thornton (YaNing) Langley, Candace Lee (Richie) Weeks, Sara Langley (Grant) Cobb, John Bishop (Nicole) Lee, Jacob "Jake" Thomas (Matison) Loftin, Stephen Taylor (Lauren) Lee, Daniel Ernest (Bethany) Langley, Rachel Loftin (John) Meese; brothers, H. Thomas Davis of Carlsbad, California, John Anderson (Sandra) Davis of Paso Robles, California; sister, Marjorie Spaulding Merwin of Williamsburg, Virginia; twelve great grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by a sister, Mary Davis Carr; and two grandchildren, Laura Jean Loftin and Kaleb Andrew Loftin. Pallbearers will be Hugh Langley, Art Loftin, David Thornton Langley, John Bishop Lee, Jacob Thomas Loftin, Stephen Taylor Lee, Daniel Ernest Langley, Richard "Richie" Weeks, Grant Freeman Cobb, and John Robert Meese.