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Thomas “Tom” Davis, age 87, of Pawleys Island, SC passed peacefully on February 10, 2025, at Tidelands Georgetown Memorial Hospital surrounded by his family. Born on July 23, 1937, in the small southwestern Pennsylvania town of Clarksville, Tom was the loving son of Thomas and Irene Davis, and beloved brother of Bobette Davis Hutchinson, a third-generation coal mining family. Known as “Chief” to his friends growing up, he attended Jefferson Morgan High School. Although quiet and easy going he was very popular in school, ran track & field, and was well known in town for the cars he drove such as his black 1955 T-Bird convertible, and as superb dancer. Following high school, he met his adoring and loving wife of 62 years M. Elizabeth “Betty” Davis in 1957 at Blanche’s Dairy Bar where they danced the night away. In 1958 Tom joined the United States Army and proposed to Betty. They were married on December 27, 1958, and left on their lifetime journey together starting at Fort Riley, in Kansas. Shortly thereafter they were stationed in Baumholder, Germany with the 26th Infantry Battalion, 8th Infantry Division, United States Army Europe. Tom and his wife Betty had many adventures traveling and exploring Europe together. They returned to the United States in 1961 and began to build their cherished family of Lisa, Lauren, and Scott. Tom and Betty moved to Arlington, VA where Tom embarked on a successful 35-year career with Allstate Insurance Company. Tom and Betty and their family moved many times with Allstate as he climbed the corporate ladder— living in Arlington, VA; Houston, TX; Roswell, GA; Libertyville, IL; finally retiring in Pawleys Island, SC, where they had spent many fun vacations with their family. Tom was proud of his military service and his career, but was most proud of his family, and dedicated his life to them. He was not a dad who spent time pursing interests of this own but instead preferred to be active in his children’s and grandchildren’s activities including education, sports, Girl Scout and Boy Scout troop activities, boating with them on the Waccamaw River and the creek at Pawleys Island, and taking long walks on the beach. Tom loved life, spending time with his family, and traveling. He was very creative and had numerous hobbies, one of them being photography. Tom took many outstanding photographs of wildlife and family portraits that he developed in his own dark room. He also enjoyed carving and painting beautiful duck decoys, seagulls, and various other waterfowl that turned into a small business called “Quackers & Cats” to sell these exquisite birds. They were a very sought after home décor piece by many of their family and friends and have a proud place of honor in many homes in Libertyville, IL as well as Pawleys Island, SC. Tom was also a master gardener. His outstanding garden filled with hydrangeas and azaleas, and koi pond was a popular destination on the Heritage Garden Walk for many years. Tom had a great dry sense of humor and quick wit and loved playing good natured jokes on family and friends. These past jokes still bring smiles to all who were part of them. Tom was quiet and shied from the limelight preferring to be in the background while enjoying watching his outgoing wife whose nickname was “Mayor of Libertyville and Pawleys Island,” be the life of the party. Throughout his life he was known for his kindness, caring, generosity, and most of all for his absolute devotion and unconditional love for his wife and family, whose lives he enriched immeasurably. He was loved and admired by many and will always be remembered as someone who was always willing to lend a hand. Tom converted to Catholicism in 1978, after many years of faith filled inspiration from his wife Betty who was a life-long devoted and practicing Catholic. He volunteered at Father Pat’s Soup Kitchen in Pawleys Island and was a member of the Knights of Columbus. Their faith and devotion have been a blessing passed down to their children and grandchildren. Tom will be remembered as a friend to everyone, but being a Husband, Father, and “Papa” was his #1 priority. In 2021 Tom and his wife Betty began to require around-the-clock caregivers whose dedication and service made them truly part of the family. The family is deeply indebted to these compassionate and thoughtful individuals, Miss Bonnie Thomas and Miss Yvonne Bauer. Besides his wife and parents, he is preceded in death by his sister Bobette Davis, brother-in-law Daniel Bullick, his sister-in-law Marcy Fraber, and brother-in-law Robert Horn. Leaving to cherish his memory is his daughter Lisa Godfrey and her husband, Michael of Libertyville, IL, his daughter Lauren Davis of Pawleys Island, SC, his son Colonel (retired) Scotty Davis and his wife, Sydney of Fairfax Station, VA, his grandson 1st Lieutenant Morgan Davis and granddaughter Hannah Davis, his sister-in-law Margaret Horn and her husband, Keith Gwyn of Frederick, MD, as well as her sister-in-law Evelyn Bullick of Aurora, CO, and numerous dear nieces, nephews, and cousins. In lieu of flowers the family requests that you consider making a memorial donation in Tom’s name to the St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital at www.stjude.org or Alzheimer’s Foundation of America at www.alzfdn.org or Wounded Warrior Project at www.woundedwarriorproject.org A funeral mass and celebration of life will be held on Friday, February 28, 2025, at 2:00 PM at Precious Blood of Christ Catholic Church, 1633 Waverly Road, Pawleys Island, SC 29585. Please sign an online guestbook at www.goldfinchfuneralhome.com Goldfinch Funeral Home, Beach Chapel is in charge of the arrangements.

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Thomas "Tom" Davis

July 23, 1937 - February 10, 2025