Hal E. Davis April 30, 1950 – March 15, 2024

Hal was cared for in his final few days by the loving nurses and staff at McWhorter

House hospice care in Monroe, North Carolina He died peacefully the night of March

15, 2024.

Born April 30, 1950 in Hutchinson Kansas to Hal A. Davis and Betty Jane Oldham

Davis, Hal subsequently grew up in Memphis Tennessee with sisters, Kathy, Susie, and

Connie. His interest and talent in making art was apparent from an early age, and along

with playing little league baseball, he was given summer art lessons. The family moved

to Indiana in the mid 1960's where Hal eventually dropped out of conventional public

high school. He decided to earn his diploma at night school, thus unencumbered by

arbitrary rules about a proper hair cut. In 1968 he returned to Memphis to attend

Memphis Academy of Arts (renamed Memphis College of Arts in 1985). Hal graduated

from the academy in 1972 having discovered and honed his skill with wood sculpture.

In the ensuing years Hal didn't claim fame or fortune as an artist, but he never lost his

love for creating and making beautiful things: unique wood furniture and boxes, chalk

paintings, photography, stone scaping, and growing exotic plants and trees. For many

years he also enjoyed raising exotic colorful – and noisy – parrots.

Hal was a gentle soul who didn't find a lot in life to take seriously, except maybe his

garden and stock trades. He favored email communication and liked to share random

thoughts and observations or interesting and funny reports that caught his attention. The

best messages were his own life stories. Family and friends will miss his unique Hal

Davis humor.

Email from Hal July 23, 2022

Subject: "Alive and well, and living in hope"

That's a George Smiley quote from "Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy". I made

enough money this week to pay my August bills, so I can declare "mission

accomplished" for a couple of days. Sitting on cash over the weekend feels

good. — The silver dioon's 2 new leaves are doing just what they are supposed

to be doing. I think they are about half way to fully expanded. They grow more

slowly than sago palm leaves. I'm not going to take a picture of them until they

are full and start to harden off. All the other things I help take care of seem to

be getting through the summer ok. I have about a dozen small cork oaks I'd like

to sell Elon Musk. Maybe he could figure out how to grow them right. — The

farmers around here are going to have plenty of soy beans this year. I haven't

seen anyone plant corn, but I have not done any driving around. I basically

won't go outside until it gets below 80*. — I'm supposed to go in for my once a

year doctor visit next month. I don't expect any big surprises with that. My

health is better than my attitude. Yes - it would have to be.— So keep up the

good work I am sure you are planning on doing someday.

HD