SPRINGDALE — Darla Davis,

a loving wife, mother, and grandmother, went home to be with the Lord, Monday, Dec. 7, 2020, in Tontitown, Ark., at 83 years of age. Darla Allene Graves was born on Oct. 6, 1937, in Muskogee, Okla., to David and Hazel (Shetley) Graves.

The fourth of seven children, she learned the importance of family at a young age and her love and loyalty to her family remained a consistent driving force throughout her life.

At 16, she married Paul James “Jim” Davis who was enlisted in the U.S. Air Force, a career that would take them to many parts of the country over the next several years. In 1955, she briefly returned to her family home in Claremore to give birth to their son, Paul James “Jimmy” Davis, Jr., rejoining her husband in Corona, Calif., shortly thereafter where she would later give birth to their daughter, Cynthia Lee Davis in 1956. The majority of the 1960s were spent in Titusville, Fla., while Jim worked at Cape Canaveral in support of the U.S. Space Program. But her heart always longed to be close to her family and, after a brief stay in New Jersey, they returned home to Claremore in 1970.

After her children graduated from high school, she and her husband moved to Northwest Arkansas where she continued to work as a bank teller, a job she first

began shortly after marriage. With Claremore only a short drive away, she made many trips back and forth to visit her brothers and sisters, where they would often be found in one of their living rooms, gathered around a card table — a tradition that never ended.

As her children married and began having kids of their own, her focus turned to spending time with her grandchildren. She loved attending any and all sporting events and before long, she had adopted entire teams of grandkids, cheering for each of them by name at every game as if they were her own. When there was a break in the sports schedule, she could usually be found with her daughter, Cindy, shopping and planning for their next arts and crafts project. Later in life, her favorite activity became chasing after her great-grandchildren on her golf cart, even giving them early driving lessons, and passing out all types of candy to them and enjoying their grateful smiles.

Her final months were spent at home under the loving care of her son, Jimmy, and enjoying days welcoming friends and family into her home.

She is survived by her husband, Jim Davis Sr. of Tontitown; her son, Jimmy Davis Jr. (and wife Miriam) of Tontitown; her sister, David Ann Ward (and husband Carl) of Claremore, Okla.; grandsons, Casey Bradford (and wife Vilay) of Cave Springs, and Jeffrey Davis (and wife Cara) of Farmington; her granddaughter, Jennifer Mills of Bentonville; and great-grandchildren, Scarlett, Levi and Curtis Mills, Case Davis; and many nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents, David and Hazel Graves; her daughter, Cindy Bradford; her brothers, Bill L. and T. Jack Graves; and her sisters, Betty Johnson, Denyse Hedgpath and Delourice Casey.

Darla’s family will gather privately to celebrate her life.

Memorial donations may be made in her honor to Circle of Life Hospice.