Menu
Gene Davis
Eugene "Gene" C. Davis, of Bruneau, passed away peacefully on Wednesday, Sept. 16, 2009.
A viewing will be held Tuesday, Sept. 22, 2009, from 10-10:45 a.m. at the American Legion Hall in Bruneau. Funeral services will follow at 11 a.m.
Interment services with military honors conducted by American Legion Post #83 will be held at the Bruneau Cemetery. Arrangements are under the direction of Rost Funeral Home, McMurtrey Chapel.
Gene was born on Nov. 12, 1924, to Perle and Hilda Davis in Canyonville, Ore. His family moved to Kuna in 1929 where they farmed. They moved to Homedale in 1942 when his father took out a homestead. Gene and his older brother Don stayed out of school for one year to help clear brush.
After graduation from Adrian High School in 1944 Gene enlisted in the US Army and eventually fought in the Battle of the Bulge where he was wounded.
He received the Purple Heart and Silver Star medals for his service to his country.
Upon his return from Europe, Gene married Letty Bronson on Dec. 7, 1946. They were blessed with three children, Jeanne, Carla Suzanne, and Eric Roland. They moved from Homedale to Bruneau in 1950. Gene, along with his brother Don and father Perle established Perle Davis and Sons. In 1959 they merged with William I. Turner & Sons and formed Bruneau Cattle Company. He was in the ranching business for the rest of his life and cherished every moment.
Gene was honored to serve as president of the Owyhee Cattlemen's Association, the Idaho Cattlemenšs Association, Cattle-Fax, the U of I Agricultural Consulting Council, and as a member of the National Cattlemenšs Association Executive Committee.
He also served as commander and chaplain of Bruneau American Legion Post #83, and chairman of the Boise District Grazing Advisory Board, Boise District Multiple Use Advisory Board, Bruneau-Grand View School District Board, Bruneau River Soil Conservation District, and the Owyhee County ASCS Committee.
Gene was also a director of the Western Idaho PCA and the American National Cattlemenšs Association, and served on the 12th District Farm Credit Board. He represented Idaho on the National Public Lands Council.
In 1964 Gene and his brother, Don, were named District 2 "Grassman of the Year." He was inducted into the Southern Idaho Livestock Hall of Fame and the Northern International Livestock Exposition Hall of Fame.
He also received an award of merit for outstanding service to agriculture by the University of Idaho chapter of Gamma Sigma Delta Agriculture Honor Society.
He was recognized by the Idaho Cattle Assoc. as Cattleman of the Year and Cattle Feeder of the Year. Most recently he was honored by the Western States Hereford Association as Cattleman of the Year.
Gene is survived by his wife, Letty, his daughters, Jeanne Gannon and Carla and her husband Chuck Locuson, his son, Eric and wife Pam Davis, grandchildren, Curtis (Jinney Smith) Gannon, Patrick Gannon, Matthew (Andrea) Locuson, Chuck Locuson II, Jeremy (Kate) Mink, and Erica Davis, great-grandchildren, Hillary and Shannon Murphy and Drayton Mink, brothers, Don (Pat) Davis, Frank (Tally) Davis, Dick (Joyce) Davis, and numerous nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents, his brother, Bob, sister-in-law Helen, sister, Francie Newman, brother-in-law Clyde Newman, and son-in law, Tom Gannon.
He was loved dearly and we will miss the twinkle in his bright blue eyes.
The family wishes to express their sincerest gratitude to the wonderful team at The Cottages in Mountain Home for their devoted and loving care of "Cowboy."
Memorial donations may be made to the Bruneau American Legion Post #83, 29766 Davis Road, Bruneau, ID 83604, the Bruneau QRU, P.O. Box 294, Bruneau, ID 83604, the National Cattlemenšs Foundation, 9110 East Nichols Ave., Ste. 300, Centennial, CO 80112, or your favorite charity.