LANCE HARRISON DAVIS
01/26/1955 - 03/22/2023
Lance Harrison Davis was born on the 26th of January 1955, in Tulsa, Oklahoma, to Leon and Elene Meyer Davis, and passed away on Houston on Wednesday, the 22nd of March 2023. He was 68 years of age.
His family moved to Houston when he was thirteen and Lance quickly developed a love for his new home. He was a true patriot, a proud Houstonian, and an even prouder Texan. He was especially fond of his cowboy boots and enjoyed wearing the many unique and colorful pairs he had designed. He was an avid reader, and because of his love for his home state, became an expert in Texas history.
A natural athlete and sportsman, he loved skeet shooting, hunting, fishing, golfing, and tennis. He attended Memorial High School and then went on to the University of Texas where he was a proud member of the Kappa Alpha fraternity and graduated with BA in Business.
As a new graduate, Lance joined his father Leon in the family business, with his brother Ross to follow. Lance, Ross, and their father enjoyed a wonderful working experience for over 30 years in family business centered on real estate and oil. Lance focused on real estate and unlike other developers in the 1980s who were creating concrete strip centers, Lance imagined courtyards, walkways, landscaping, and welcoming common areas. Summit Square on the Southwest Freeway reflects this emphasis, and also his love for his alma mater. He designed a tower at the shopping center in the likeness of the famed tower on the Austin campus and delighted in illuminating it on burnt orange following every UT football victory.
While building his real estate portfolio, Lance developed another love - one for his future wife, Barbie Fain. Lance and Barbie met through Evan, Lance’s younger sister and roommate in college. Early in dating, the deal was sealed on a chartered fishing trip in Clute, Texas, the “Mosquito Capital of the World.” Lance’s compassion on this trip for seasick Barbie revealed Lance’s true character and they remained inseparable for life.
Lance was a tender and devoted father to his four children, Whitman Fain, Parker Harrison, Natalie Snow and George Wythe Davis. He loved to share his knowledge and experiences, especially with his children, always encouraging them to be curious and inquisitive. His love for him knew no limits.
Lance contributed to a wide range of charitable causes, perhaps his most cherished being the Holocaust Museum Houston, where he and his family funded the Garden of the Righteous named in honor of his grandfather Harry who saved numerous members of the Davis family from the ravages of the Holocaust.
Lance was a member of the Bayou City Breakfast Club, The Breakfast Association of Houston, River Oaks Country Club, Congregation Beth Israel and the International Council of Shopping Centers.
Lance is survived by his beloved wife, Barbara Snow Fain Davis and their children, Parker Harrison, Natalie Snow and George Wythe Davis; sister, Lynn Davis Lasher and her children Alexandra Reese Lasher, Hayden Lasher McGuiness and Alfred William Lasher IV; brother, Ross Meyer Davis and wife Gail Alexander Davis and their children Alexandra Louise, Katherine Leigh and Elizabeth Meyer Davis. He is predeceased by his son, Whitman Fain Davis; sister, Evan Carole Davis; and parents, Leon and Elene Meyer Davis.
Friends are cordially invited to a visitation from five o’clock in the afternoon until seven o’clock in the evening on Wednesday, the 29th of March, in the library and grand foyer of Geo. H. Lewis & Sons, 1010 Bering Drive in Houston.
A memorial service is to be conducted at two o’clock in the afternoon on Thursday, the 30th of March, at Congregation Beth Israel, 5600 North Braeswood Boulevard in Houston, where Rabbi David A. Lyon is to officiate.
Immediately following, all are invited to greet the family and share remembrances of Mr. Davis during a reception at a venue to be announced during the service.
Prior to the Service the family will gather for a private interment at Glenwood Cemetery in Houston. Honored to serve as pallbearers during the service are Parker Davis, George Davis, Ross M. Davis, Douglas Fain, MD, John W. Fain, II, Bert Langdon, William Lasher, and Nick Paul. Serving as honorary pallbearers are Sandford Cohen, Pete Conrad, Lee Davis, Mark Dulworth, Holly Frost, Houston Kauffman, Phil Kiger, Paul Murphy, Jay Oates, MD, Leigh Smith, Leigh Taliaferro, MD, and Frederick Tuthill.
In lieu of customary remembrances, the family requests with gratitude that memorial contributions in his memory be directed to the Lance H. Davis Stem Cell Cancer Research Program in care of Hope Biosciences at 16700 Creek Bend Drive, Sugar Land, Texas 77478.
Please visit Mr. Davis’ online memorial tribute at GeoHLewis.com where fond memories and words of comfort and condolence may be shared electronically with his family.