John Robert “Bob” Davis of Tempe, Arizona, died peacefully at his home on July 12, 2023, following a heroic, 18-year battle with multiple myeloma.
A Celebration of Life Service, led by Pastor Tricia Veit, will be held at 10:30 a.m. Saturday, October 21, 2023, at Smith Chapel United Methodist Church, with inurnment following in Smith Chapel Cemetery.
Memorials are suggested to Smith Chapel Cemetery. Friends may sign
the online register book at www.campbell-lewis.com
Bob was born at Fort Chaffee, Arkansas, on July 17, 1964, to John Hardy Davis and Judy Marie Derrick Davis. As a toddler, Bob spent a few years living with his grandmother, Elizabeth Breshears, in rural Marshall. He spoke fondly of his grandmother teaching him the Bible and praying with her.
In 1979, as he and his friends were becoming teenagers, he saw them choosing lifestyles that he could not accept; through his own initiative, he returned to the life he loved in rural Missouri living with Chuck and Joyce Davis. Years later, Bob expressed how overwhelmed he was that Chuck and Joyce embraced him into their family with no questions or hesitations; and he wondered what his life would have been had he stayed in Tucson. Following graduation from Marshall High School in 1982, Bob served in the U.S. Marine Corps stationed at Camp Pendleton and in Cuba and Yuma, Arizona.
In December 2005, in Phoenix, Arizona, Bob was married to Ana Valadez. Their time together was short, and multiple myeloma played an ongoing and demanding role in their marriage. Ana was Bob’s best friend, his nurse, his caregiver, his inspiration, and the absolute love of his life. The only regret in dying that Bob expressed was that he would be without Ana.
With his beloved Ana by his side, he visited Joyce and Chuck and the family the week before his passing. This was his special place.
Any mention of Bob would be sorely lacking without speaking of his love of reading, especially history. He was amazingly well versed in all things related to the Civil War-the politics, specific battles, people, places, and institutions-and would spend hours talking about that historical event.
Survivors, in addition to his beloved wife Ana, include his daughter, Courtney Galaz (Anthony) of Tucson, Arizona; grandchildren, Jordan, Joseph and Jaxon; stepchildren, who were so present in his life and for whom he had great love: Vianey Lorely Gonzalez, Karen Rocio Gonzalez, Anna Jocelynne Gonzalez and Luis Angel Valadez; and his step-grandchildren who brought him so much joy in his last few years: Leah Lorely Vazquez, Liam Charles Alexander and William Robert Vazquez; mother, Judy Hale of LaVergne, Tennessee; siblings: Deborah Black of Apache Junction, Arizona, Faith Martin (Charles) and son of Lugoff, South Carolina, Jim Davis (Jean) and son of Mechanicsville, Virginia, Jamison Siebert (Christy) and children of Joelton, Tennessee and Charles Siebert (Tara) and children of LaVergne, Tennessee.
Preceding Bob in death was his father, sister, Vicky, grandparents and numerous aunts, uncles and cousins.