Obituary of Dr. Robert Wendell Davis

Funeral Services for Dr. Robert Wendell “Bob” Davis of Elsberry, MO will be at 11:00 a.m. on Monday, June 9, 2025 at Carter-Ricks Funeral Home. Rev. Kris Hagemeier, pastor of Elsberry First Christian Church will officiate. Burial will be in Elsberry City Cemetery in Elsberry. Serving as pallbearers will be Rick Davis, Mike Davis, Gary Pepper, Ron Mullennix, Jeff Mullennix and Dove Koehly; and honorary pallbearers are Wayne Lovelace, Jim Mayes and Ronnie Vaughn. Bob, 95, was born on October 2, 1929 in Elsberry, MO, the son of Bennie F. and Mabel Long Davis. He passed away late Tuesday morning, June 3, 2025 at the Elsberry Health Care Center. Bob was a 1947 graduate of Elsberry High School before attending the University of Missouri for one year. Bob went on to serve in the United States Army from August 1948 to August 1949 while stationed in Lawton, OK. He returned to the University of Missouri and graduated in 1954 with a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree. Bob practiced in Chillicothe, MO for one year as a Deputy Veterinarian for the Department of Agriculture. He was united in marriage on January 14, 1956 in Chillicothe to Shirley Jean Pepper. They were blessed with two children: Janet Kay and Bryan Wendell. The family moved back to Elsberry in May of 1957 where Bob established his private practice, continuing to serve the community until his retirement in 1993. Bob served on the Elsberry R-2 School District Board for 16 years. He was active in the Lincoln County Wildlife Club; and served on the Board of Directors for the Elsberry Health Care Center from its inception in 1976. Bob was a longtime member of the Elsberry First Christian Church. Bob was preceded in death by his parents, Bennie and Mabel Davis; his daughter, Janet Kay; and brothers: Forrest Long and Thomas Ferry. Survivors include his beloved wife of 69 years, Shirley Davis of Troy, MO; one son, Bryan W. Davis of Choctaw, OK; his son-in-law, Michael Spradling of Columbia, IL; step-grandchildren: Sarah Spradling of Akron, OH, Josh Spradling of Kansas City, MO, Vince Spradling of St. Louis, MO and Justin Spradling of Columbia, IL; and eleven nieces and nephews. Bob also leaves his brother-in-law and sister-in-law; other relatives and many, many friends. Visitation will be held from 5:00 - 7:00 p.m. on Sunday, June 8, 2025 at Carter-Ricks Funeral Home in Elsberry. Memorials may be made to the Alzheimer’s Association (or) Elsberry First Christian Church in care of Carter-Ricks Funeral Home, 107 South 5th Street; Elsberry, MO 63343.