Gary Lee Davis, age 56, former resident of Fort Scott, Kan., and more recently of Lawrence, Kan., died unexpectedly early Wednesday, Aug. 1, 2007 at the Lawrence Memorial Hospital. He was born Feb. 19, 1951, in Fort Scott the son of Ellise Jones Davis and Paul Julium Davis. Gary was a 1970 graduate of Fort Scott High School where he excelled in athletics. He attended both Fort Scott and Parsons Community Colleges where he played baseball. He loved baseball, football and track. Gary continued to play baseball in adult leagues. He first married Debra Sue Sharp. They divorced. He married Kathleen Bixler in 1988. They divorced in 2005. Gary was currently employed in maintenance at the University of Kansas in Lawrence. He was a veteran having served in the United States Marine Corps. He also was a certified Adult Home Care Aide. He was of the Jehovah's Witness faith. His hobbies include health and fitness, being in nature and dancing.

Survivors include his mother, Ellise Davis, Chanute, Kan.; daughter, Keshia Davis, Kansas City, Mo.; two sons, Gary Lee Davis Jr. and partner Victoria, Lamar, Mo., and Maurice Davis and wife Lori, Frontenac, Kan.; three brothers, Kevin Davis and wife Mikki, Muskogee, Okla., Ralph Davis and wife Tanya, Chanute, Kan., and Allen Davis, St. Louis; four sisters, Saundra Woolfolk, Chanute, Paulette Mosby, Olathe, Kan., Joyce Johnson and husband Woody, Wichita, and Deborah Goins and husband Wayne, Manhattan, Kan. Also surviving are his former wives, Debra Sue Salami, Joplin and Kathleen Davis, Parsons, Kan.; four grandchildren, Jwuane, McKenna, Megan and Madison; several nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his father and beloved infant sister, Diane Denise Davis. Jack Grubb will conduct funeral services at 1 p.m. Saturday in the Cheney Witt Chapel. Burial will follow in Evergreen Cemetery with Military Honors conducted by the Olson Frary Burkhart Post No.1165 V.F.W. He will be laid to rest beside his sister, Diane.

The family will receive friends following the service at Cheney Witt Carriage House. Memorials are suggested to a Fort Scott High School Sports Program and may be sent to Cheney Witt Chapel, P.O. Box 347, Fort Scott, KS 66701. Words of comfort may be sent to info@cheneywitt.com.