In Remembrance: Boyce R. Davis

A man who was mayor of Lincoln, city attorney for both Prairie Grove and Lincoln and was a newspaper owner and publisher for four weekly publications passed away Thursday, Jan. 5, 2017, in Fayetteville, Ark.

Boyce Ray Davis, 78, was born May 29, 1938, in Prairie Grove, Ark., the son of Oliver Ray and Beulah Faye (Tucker) Davis.

Davis practiced law in Lincoln for 40 years and was an active member of the community of Lincoln. He served as city attorney for Prairie Grove and Lincoln for more than 20 years and was mayor of Lincoln for 18 months, being appointed to serve out the remaining term of a mayor who had resigned.

In 1968, Davis was elected as a delegate from Washington County to the state’s Seventh Constitutional Convention. In that capacity, he served on the County Government Committee and was instrumental in drafting the provisions that proposed the restructuring of county government.

Although the proposed Constitution of 1970 was defeated by voters in the ensuing election, that same proposed provision has since been approved by voters as a constitutional amendment and is presently in place throughout the state.

Davis was elected to the Lincoln Consolidated School Board in 1980 and served in that capacity for 10 years.

Davis was a past president and board member of Lincoln Kiwanis Club and was instrumental in founding the Arkansas Apple Festival in Lincoln. Davis was one of a handful of men who thought of the idea as a way to commemorate the nation’s bicentennial in 1976. Arkansas Apple Festival celebrated its 41st anniversary in 2016.

Davis also was a member of Lincoln Library Board and choir director for First Presbyterian Church in Lincoln. He was in the Naval Reserve and a member of the Arkansas Trial Lawyers Association and Arkansas Bar Association.

Davis was owner and publisher of four newspapers — Lincoln Leader, Prairie Grove Enterprise, Washington County Observer, Westville (Okla.) Reporter — and penned a weekly column, “On The Wry Side.”

Dr. Andrew Bain, former mayor of Prairie Grove during the late 1990s and early 2000s, said Davis was a “very intelligent, very bright guy.” Bain said he first came to know Davis through his children and said Davis had the “gift of the pen and the gift of gab.”

Neil Helms of Lincoln, a member of Lincoln Kiwanis Club, said Davis was a “major contributor to the history of Lincoln and this part of the county.” He added, “He always appeared to have the good of the community in the forefront of his mind.”

Larry Oelrich began working for the city of Prairie Grove when Davis was city attorney.

Oelrich remembers Davis as a great story-teller and an “old- school attorney.” The two took many rides together to Little Rock.

“I had a great relationship with him for 20 years,” Oelrich said.

Davis was preceded in death by his parents; his first wife, Joan E. Davis; and one granddaughter, Holly Elizabeth Green.

He is survived by his wife, Wilma Davis; three sons, Jeff Barnes of Lincoln, Scott Davis and wife Bridgett of Greenland, Ark., and Berkley Davis and wife Gai of Franklin, Tenn.; one daughter, Whitney L. Green and husband Derek of Fayetteville; one sister, Owanda Davis of Roswell, N.M.; one stepdaughter, Karen Barnes of Lincoln; three stepsons, Bobby Russell, Bo Jones, and Goy Jones, all of Lincoln; and 13 grandchildren, Jennifer Huffmaster, Adam Barnes, Spencer Green, Tanner Green, Jordan Davis, Alexis Davis, Kelly Davis, Kassie Davis, MacKenzie Crews, Eli Davis, Hope Davis, Sawyer Davis, Tripp Davis; four great-grandchildren; numerous step-grandchildren and step-great-grandchildren.

Funeral service was held at 10 a. m. Monday, Jan. 9, 2017, at Luginbuel Chapel in Prairie Grove. Burial was in Highland Cemetery in Farmington, Ark.

In lieu of flowers memorials may be made to the Lincoln Middle School Library in memory of Boyce Davis.

Online guest book, www. luginbuel.com.

Luginbuel Funeral Home of Prairie Grove was in charge of arrangements.

Davis