Chester (Chet) Arthur Davis
1922-2004

Memorial services were held Sept. 1 for former Bishop resident Chester (Chet) 
Arthur Davis.  His grandson, Reverend Jamie Davis, officiated the service.

Chet was born on June 3, 1922 in Greenfield, Mass.  He served as a pilot and 
aviation instructor in the U.S. Army Air Force as a first lieutenant during 
World War II and went on to become a beloved husband to Elaine Tanksley on Aug. 
7, 1948, as well as a father to three sons and one daughter.

Chet's journey led him to become an electrical contractor, commercial and 
industrial builder, developer and, foremost, a lay minister of the gospel of 
Jesus Christ.

He was a resident of Bishop for more than 30 years and came to call many in the 
community his extended children and family.  Five years ago he and his wife 
moved to Apple Valley to be closer to expert medical care facilities, and 
recently moved to Oklahoma where his eldest son and two grandsons live, but he 
always called Bishop his home.

Chet died on Oct. 8, 2004 of a split aorta.  Chet suffered from dementia from 
years of strokes and heart attacks but he continued to minister the gospel even 
to the end.

According to family, while surgeons stood ready, the nurses lifted him from the 
gurney to the operating table, where he suffered a fatal heart attack.  But the 
doctors revived him once again.  "As he came to, and they started the IV drip, 
he was Chet again, clear and precise," loved ones said.  "He looked at one of 
the nurses, who is the sister of his daughter-in-law, and said, 'Let me go home 
now, I am at peace and God is calling me home."  The doctors were stunned 
because there was no dementia in those last moments and they had to honor his 
wishes."

To those who knew him, "you will remember that this was his heart's cry that God 
would take him home to the place of rejoicing ever more.  I know he would tell 
me to remind you to rejoice with him and he hopes to see you there, "his 
daughter Cheryl, said.

Chet is survived by his wife, Elaine; son and daughter-in-law, Art and Patricia 
Davis of Oklahoma City, Okla.; son and daughter-in-law, Charlie and Shelley 
Davis of Whittier; son and daughter-in-law, Danny and Madge Davis of Huntsville, 
Ala.; daughter and son-in-law, Cheryl and Allen Barker of Bishop, 11 
grandchildren, 14 great-grandchildren; sisters Adelaide Cogle and Stella 
Mitchell of Apple Valley; and many nieces and nephews.


The Inyo Register
Bishop, Inyo County, California
Tuesday, November 9, 2004 – Page A-2.

Transcribed by Laura M. Bybee for Inyo County GenWeb, 3 June 2005