Atley Gene Davis

Deprecated: trim(): Passing null to parameter #1 ($string) of type string is deprecated in /home/ruebel/public_html/obits/obituaries.php on line 271
Apr 21st, 2015

Deprecated

/home/ruebel/public_html/obits/obituaries.php

279

Death Date: Apr 21, 2015

Deprecated

/home/ruebel/public_html/obits/obituaries.php

285

Deprecated

/home/ruebel/public_html/obits/obituaries.php

302

Save: Print this Obituary

Biography: Atley Gene Davis, 92, of Little Rock, passed away Tuesday, April 21, 2015 at Baptist Hospital in Little Rock. He was born January 16, 1923, in Cotter, AR, to Mattie Lou Smith and William Rhea Davis. They moved to Little Rock in 1927. He is survived by his sister, Margaret Moose of Alexandria, Virginia; his son, Rhea Davis, of Little Rock; his daughters, Diane Peters of Little Rock and Debra McQueen of Austin; their husbands, George and Michael; his granddaughters, Elizabeth McQueen of Austin, Texas, and Katherine Boland of Athens, Georgia; their husbands, David Sanger and Lynn Boland; and his four greatly loved great grandchildren, Lisel McQueen, Lute Boland, Willow McQueen, and Atley Boland. He was preceded in death by his wife, Betty, his sister, Miriam, and his parents. In his early years, Mr. Davis worked with his father at the business he started, Davis Wrecking Company. After graduating from Little Rock Senior High school in 1941, he attended Little Rock Junior College for 2 years. In WWII, he served in the Army Air Corps from 1942 until 1945. He married his wife of 63 years, Sarah Elizabeth Cleaver, in 1945 at Asbury Methodist Church. After the war, he took over his father?s company and, over the years, transformed the salvage yard into a thriving truck and trailer equipment and manufacturing firm, Davis Trailer & Equipment. He loved cars, trucks, and all kinds of machinery. He spent many hours restoring antique cars, and was an active member of the Arkansas Travelers Antique Car Club and the Mid-America Old-Time Auto Association. He was involved in the founding and operation of the Museum of Automobiles on Petit Jean Mountain and served on the Board of Directors of the Museum for many years until his death. He retired from Davis Trailer in 1979, but continued developing real estate properties and managing rental properties until his death. He took great pride in his business, and truly relished the friends he made from running it, as well as his many Antique Car connections. Visitation will be at 10am at Ruebel Funeral Home, 6313 W. Markham St. on Saturday, April 25, 2015, followed by funeral services at 11:00am, also at Ruebel, followed by a short graveside service at Roselawn Memorial Park. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, Texas, or to the Museum of Automobiles in Petit Jean State Park, Arkansas. Arrangements by Ruebel Funeral Home, www.ruebelfuneralhome.com.

Condolences(15)

Jim Reed

#15

Mar 15th, 2019 11:44 am

Diane,
I am saddened to just now hear of your dad's passing. He was always very kind to me during our high school days. He was a great man who I admired. Know that my thought and prayers are with you, Debbie, and Rhea.

Jim

Este Anita Frazier, w/ the Criminal Justice Institute -U of A System

#14

Mar 15th, 2019 11:44 am

Diane,

I just learned today of Mr. Davis' passing. My heart-felt sympathy and condolences goes to you and your family. Mr. Davis was a true and fair business man and I truly valued our professional friendship. May God bless you and your family. Mr. Davis had a well-lived life!

Kathy Ramsey

#13

Mar 15th, 2019 11:44 am

Diane,

I'm sending you my heartfelt condolences at this very sad time.

Gloria Venable

#12

Mar 15th, 2019 11:44 am

Diane,
My sincere condolences in the loss of your father.

Mike and Jenni (Robb) Owen

#11

Mar 15th, 2019 11:44 am

Diane, Debra and Rhea: We were so sorry to hear of Atley's passing. Our thoughts and prayers are with you and your families. We'll miss the twinkle in his eyes and his passion for life.

All our love,
Mike and Jenni

Robert & Marie Mile

#10

Mar 15th, 2019 11:44 am

We wanted to share our condolences with Atley?s family.? It is never easy to have to say goodbye to a loved one.? The pain of loss can be unbearable. Our Creator promises us that one day this pain will be just a memory.? That beautiful promise can be found at Revelation 21:3,4. Our pain and suffering will be a thing of the past, and we can cry tears of joy as we welcome back the ones that we love so much.? We hope you find comfort in those promises.?

C. Childress

Mar 15th, 2019 11:44 am

To the Davis family. I'm so terribly sorry for your loss. Death is something that humans were never meant to experience, the pain that we experience when we lose a loved one is something that is simply unnatural. Psalms 37:29 says 29 "The righteous will possess the earth, And they will live forever on it." God's original purpose for humankind was to live forever in a paradise earth with no sickness or death. An "abundance of peace" as psalms 37:10 brings out. Though the world we live in is horrible and we experience pain on a daily basis there is some good news, the Bible promises something truly amazing at revelation 21:4 it says "And he will wipe out every tear from their eyes, and death will be no more, neither will mourning nor outcry nor pain be anymore. The former things have passed away.? So death, sickness, pain and every kind of sorrow will be wiped out but what about those who have already died? John 5:28,29 says of those ones "Do not be amazed at this, for the hour is coming in which all those in the memorial tombs will hear his voice 29 and come out, those who did good things to a resurrection of life, and those who practiced vile things to a resurrection of judgment." So these ones will be resurrected to an earth filled with peace. Until then, may God comfort you during this difficult time.

Norman Clifton

Mar 15th, 2019 11:44 am

our prayers for the family our families go along way back as my dad started in the salvage business in 1937 after mr Davis encouraged him and over the years we have had a lot of business together . With fond memories . Norman Clifton

Cyril Hollingsworth

Mar 15th, 2019 11:44 am

Diane and Debra,
Betsy and I learned in the newspaper this morning of the death of your Dad. Thankful for his long life, we know it is a real loss and we want you to know we are thinking of you and your families.
Cyril

Charles Isgrig

Mar 15th, 2019 11:44 am

Debbie & Mike, so sorry, he lived a full and good life.

Kathy Stroh

Mar 15th, 2019 11:44 am

Rhea, my sympathies to you and your family.

Hugh Davis

Mar 15th, 2019 11:44 am

Diane and Debbie, I'm so sorry to hear of your father's passing. I have many fond memories of you and your family at Oak Forest Methodist during our much younger days. I hope that you are doing well.

Anne Broadwater

Mar 15th, 2019 11:44 am

Mr. Davis was a true gentleman. His love for Betty was written in the stars. He remained steadfast in his devotion to her even though her final years presented many challenges. He was also a devoted friend to my parents, Tom & Fran Jansen. I remember the stories that would flow from their Antique Car Club travels...stories that would be embellished by the frequent break-downs of automobiles along their journeys. Their mutual respect was enviable. I will forever hold fond memories of Atley and Betty. Godspeed to the both of them.

Fran Jansen Webb

Mar 15th, 2019 11:44 am

So sorry to hear of your dad's passing. He was great friend to my dad, Tom Jansen. They had a blast playing golf together and shared a love of antique cars. No doubt they are playing a round or two in Heaven today! Peace to your family.

Wayne Collie

Mar 15th, 2019 11:44 am

My sincere condolences in the loss of your father, Debra and my prayers for you and your family. No one knows how you feel to lose your Father, unless they themselves have experienced it! My our GOD bless and comfort you in your time of great loss! Central High School friends forever! Class of 1966!

Atley Gene Davis

Leave your Condolence