LOWELL — Gary Dale Davidson,

65, of Lowell, Ark., went to his heavenly home on Thursday August 24, 2023, surrounded by his family at his home after a seven-year battle with cancer.

Gary was born in Gravette, Ark., to Marion Charles and Peggy June Russell Davidson on July 3rd, 1958; the third of four siblings. Gary gave his

life to Jesus Christ when he was 11 years old at First Baptist Church West Memphis. Gary graduated from Marion High School in West Memphis in 1976 and then attended The University of Arkansas and Henderson State University. He met Kathy Ann Johnson at Sunbelt Airlines in Camden, Ark., and they were married on November 22, 1982. In 1986, they settled in Northwest Arkansas, where they raised their four children Shawn, Hannah, Maxwell, and Gabrielle.

Gary earned a bachelor’s degree in aviation in 1980 and started his career as a pilot for Sunbelt Airlines. In 1985, he moved to Republic Airlines, who soon merged with Northwest Airlines where he flew for 23 years as a co-pilot and captain of the DC-9, DC-10, 727, A320, and the 757. Northwest and Delta merged in 2008, and he finished his aviation career with Delta as a captain on the A330 in 2019. He loved to fly the longhaul flights to Alaska, Athens, Guam, Hawaii, Rome and Shenzhen.

Gary loved the Lord more than anything. He was actively involved at Immanuel Baptist Church in Rogers for 30+ years as a Sunday school teacher of varying ages, a member of the Men of Valor men’s group, and part of the Saturday night prayer group. Starting in 2020, he taught a Bible class on Zoom to a group of Vietnamese students. When flying trips to Africa for Delta, he would bring suitcases of supplies with him to missionaries that were working in local orphanages.

After his faith, Gary loved his family, an array of outdoor activities, and the Razorbacks. He and Kathy loved to travel before having kids and passed on that love to their children with annual trips all over the world. Gary and Kathy recently celebrated their 40th wedding anniversary with a tour of Israel. He was active in his children’s lives coaching little league, soccer, basketball, teaching them to water ski, fish, and hunt. He enjoyed fishing on layovers in Alaska and Iceland and in recent years was the best Pawpaw to a growing list of grandchildren.

He will be missed by his wife Kathy Davidson of Lowell, Ark.; son, Shawn Davidson and his wife Elizabeth of Plano, Texas; daughter, Hannah Mock and her husband Kyle of Plano, Texas; son, Maxwell Davidson and his wife Courtney of Rogers, Ark.; and daughter, Gabrielle Davidson of Lowell, Ark.; grandchildren Jake Davidson, Russell Mock, and Campbell Davidson; sister and brother-in-law Karen Spurrier and Dane Spurrier of Charlestown, W.Va.; and many muchloved nieces, nephews, and cousins. He was preceded in death by his parents, Marion and Peggy Davidson; his sisters, Donna Davidson and Janet Davidson; and grandchild, baby Alex.

A visitation will be held on Tuesday, August 29, 2023, from 5-7 p.m., at the Nelson-Berna Funeral home in Rogers and a celebration of life is scheduled for Wednesday, August 30, 2023, at 2 p.m., in the Hunt Memorial Chapel.

The family kindly asks that you wear bright colors for the celebration of life. Gary has no more pain and is in a better place in the presence of his Lord and Savior.

In lieu of flowers, the family kindly requests donations be made to Immanuel Baptist Church in Rogers, Ark. To leave an online condolence please visit www.bernafuneralhomes.com.