Gary Davis

Gary Davis, 74, of Cassville passed away at his home on Thursday, Aug. 18, 2022. Son of J.R and Minnie (Shockley) Davis, he was born on Oct. 18, 1947, in Monett. He attended Southwest High School in Washburn, where he played basketball and graduated in 1965. On Dec. 19, 1966, in Seligman he married  Mary Jane Mitchell; she survives him.
He began his college career in Rolla going on to Southwest Missouri State University, and eventually graduating cum laude, with a bachelor of science degree in business administration in Washington, D.C. He would then go on to a long and successful career in law enforcement, dedicating 33 years of his life to the Federal Bureau of Investigation, even serving under the highly esteemed J. Edgar Hoover.
After retiring from the Bureau in 2003, he made his way back home to Missouri. He began substitute teaching at Cassville High School shortly after retiring. In 2016, he was elected Sheriff of Barry County, where he served until 2020. He continued serving local citizens on boards including the Barry County Fire Department and 911 Emergency Management. He was also involved in the Washburn Civic Association. 
Survivors include his wife, Mary (Mitchell) Davis, of Cassville; two children, Craig Davis (Crystal), of Neosho and Casandra Cothran-Zolan (Matthew Robert Zolan), of Montgomery, Texas; six grandchildren; three great-grandchildren; a brother, Kevin Davis (Teresa), of Monett; a sister, Mary Roller (Russell), of Washburn; two brothers-in-law, Burl Mitchell (Debra), of Cassville, and Charlie Mitchell (Lisa), of Seligman; one sister-in-law, Sandra Tilford (Darrel), of Seligman; several nieces and nephews; and numerous great-nieces and great-nephews.
In addition to his parents, J.R. and Minnie Davis, he was preceded in death by a son-in-law, Wade Cothran; and a niece.
Funeral services were at 2 p.m. on Monday, Aug. 22, 2022, at the First Baptist Church of Cassville, with Pastor James Weaver and Pastor Glenn Erwin officiating. Burial followed at Washburn Prairie Cemetery in Washburn. The family received friends at the church for an hour prior to the service.
Memorial contributions may be made in honor of Davis to Integrity Hospice or Cancer Research for the Ozarks, and entrusted to White Funeral Home & Crematory, P.O. Box 890, Cassville, MO 65625.
Service arrangements are under the direction of White Funeral Home & Crematory, Cassville.