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John Robert Davis, 77, beloved husband, father, brother, and friend, passed away peacefully Saturday, January 3, 2026, at Lake Pointe Hospital in Rowlett, Texas. Funeral services will be 2:00 P.M., Wednesday, January 7, 2026 at Coker-Mathews Funeral Home Chapel with Rev. Steve Payne and Mrs. Brittany Sims officiating. Interment will be in Memoryland Memorial Park. Visitation will be 1:00 P.M. until service time.
He lived a life marked by love, faith, and devotion to his family.
John is survived by his wife of 45 years, Janice Davis; daughters Allison Davis and Amy Davis, all of Fate, Texas; sister and brother-in-law Sue and Ron Meritt of Mineola; sister-in-law Dianne Martin of Abileen; nieces and nephews Kristen and Jon Gowen, Mark and Lora Meritt, Jay and Kristy Ward, Stacy and Greg Anthony, Michael and Erin Martin, Randy and Rose Martin, and Tammy and Donny Riggin; granddogs Madden, Alabama, and Texas;special family friends Elda and Josh and Lillian and Layla Hudson; and many great nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents Dee and Frances Davis; in-laws Toxie and Callie Price; sister Linda Kirby; brother-in-law Ray Martin; and granddogs Landry and Peyton.
John was born to Dee and Frances Davis on February 4, 1948. He was a (nearly) lifelong Greenville resident, graduating from Greenville High School in 1966 and East Texas State University in 1970. Since 1966, he dedicated 60 years of service to Coker-Mathews Funeral Home serving as Senior Vice President, Funeral Director and Embalmer, showing his quiet faith and infinite kindness helping so many families in their time of need. Away from work, John loved spending time with all his girls, watching them watch football, grilling for his family, and caring for his loved ones. He lived a life of quiet but steadfast faith in the Lord and was a member of Highland Terrace Baptist Church.
He tried, though unsuccessfully, to retire from Coker-Mathews in 2020. Though he stopped meeting with families, he still continued working in the office at Coker-Mathews, as he said to keep them out of trouble! 2021 did mark his and Janice’s move to the Fate area, making his daughter’s commute shorter. His granddog Peyton believed he spent extra time at home because of her, and she became his shadow. While his health declined over the years, he kept living fully and spoiling all his girls.
We request that memorials be made at a charity near to your hearts in honor of John, our beloved husband and Daddy.
Pallbearers will be Ron Merritt, Josh Hudson, Greg Anthony, Greg Coats, Kevin Lohmeyer, Mike Rackley and Randy Tarpley.
Honorary pallbearers will be Jay Ward, Butch Mitchell, Fernando Estrella, Mark Merritt, Michael Martin, Luke Anthony and Randy Martin.
We know John is in Heaven now and fully healthy. We will cherish this thought through these trying days and weeks and months ahead. We have faith that God’s will has been done, and He will guide and strengthen us at this time. And Peyton is already showing him her favorite street of gold! We love you always, Daddy.
He lived a life marked by love, faith, and devotion to his family.
John is survived by his wife of 45 years, Janice Davis; daughters Allison Davis and Amy Davis, all of Fate, Texas; sister and brother-in-law Sue and Ron Meritt of Mineola; sister-in-law Dianne Martin of Abileen; nieces and nephews Kristen and Jon Gowen, Mark and Lora Meritt, Jay and Kristy Ward, Stacy and Greg Anthony, Michael and Erin Martin, Randy and Rose Martin, and Tammy and Donny Riggin; granddogs Madden, Alabama, and Texas;special family friends Elda and Josh and Lillian and Layla Hudson; and many great nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents Dee and Frances Davis; in-laws Toxie and Callie Price; sister Linda Kirby; brother-in-law Ray Martin; and granddogs Landry and Peyton.
John was born to Dee and Frances Davis on February 4, 1948. He was a (nearly) lifelong Greenville resident, graduating from Greenville High School in 1966 and East Texas State University in 1970. Since 1966, he dedicated 60 years of service to Coker-Mathews Funeral Home serving as Senior Vice President, Funeral Director and Embalmer, showing his quiet faith and infinite kindness helping so many families in their time of need. Away from work, John loved spending time with all his girls, watching them watch football, grilling for his family, and caring for his loved ones. He lived a life of quiet but steadfast faith in the Lord and was a member of Highland Terrace Baptist Church.
He tried, though unsuccessfully, to retire from Coker-Mathews in 2020. Though he stopped meeting with families, he still continued working in the office at Coker-Mathews, as he said to keep them out of trouble! 2021 did mark his and Janice’s move to the Fate area, making his daughter’s commute shorter. His granddog Peyton believed he spent extra time at home because of her, and she became his shadow. While his health declined over the years, he kept living fully and spoiling all his girls.
We request that memorials be made at a charity near to your hearts in honor of John, our beloved husband and Daddy.
Pallbearers will be Ron Merritt, Josh Hudson, Greg Anthony, Greg Coats, Kevin Lohmeyer, Mike Rackley and Randy Tarpley.
Honorary pallbearers will be Jay Ward, Butch Mitchell, Fernando Estrella, Mark Merritt, Michael Martin, Luke Anthony and Randy Martin.
We know John is in Heaven now and fully healthy. We will cherish this thought through these trying days and weeks and months ahead. We have faith that God’s will has been done, and He will guide and strengthen us at this time. And Peyton is already showing him her favorite street of gold! We love you always, Daddy.