October 12, 1994 - Trinity U. M. Church – Grand Island, Nebraska
Rev. Del Roper
“This is the day that the Lord has made! Let us rejoice and be glad in it!” If Larry Davis could speak to us this moment, he might likely repeat that great affirmation. This was an affirmation he often spoke at the beginning of each day. He might also quote from the writer of Ecclesiastes: “For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven: a time to be born, and a time to die, a time to plant, and a time to pluck up what is planted” (Eccl. 3:1-2). This man who has lived among us and shared such a rich and vital ministry, I think would want to assure us that what looks like death is but the ending of one season and the beginning of another. Though saddened by his departure, we can rejoice in the life he lived among us and the good memories he leaves his wife, his family, and his friends. Larry Davis will be deeply missed.
At such a time it is appropriate that we come together to not only lift up cherished memories of who this good friend and loved one has been to us—but it’s also appropriate that we worship God, and seek comfort in ur time of sorrow. We worship God as we call on his name, offer our prayers of praise and petition, ponder the witness of the scriptures, and join in the great songs of faith. We seek comfort in the great promises God has made known to us through the psalms and prophets of old, but most especially through his beloved son, Jesus the Christ.
We’ve come also to be with Merna, Larry’s beloved wife, and their children, Jeannie and Maggie, their precious families. We come to offer our love and support in their time of sorrow, even though each of us share in that sorrow. Yet tears alone would not be a fitting tribute to Larry Davis. Because of who he was and is—we can enter into a time of celebration as well. The memories he leaves each of us, gives much for celebration. And we thank God for this.
Certainly among the many memories he leaves us is his deep faith in God, and his dedication to the ministry of Jesus Christ. Larry Lived out his life in daily communion with God. His heart resonated with the words of the Psalmist:
Bless the Lord, O my soul;
and all that is within me, bless his holy name!
Bless the Lord, O my soul,
and forget not all his benefits,
who forgives all your iniquity,
who heals all your diseases,
who redeems your life from the pit,
who crowns you with steadfast love and mercy,
who satisfies you with good as long as you live
so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s.”
Psalm 103:1-5
We too can take comfort in those great promises as this time—and know the joy of living in daily communion with the one who has made us. Just as he tasted all those benefits—forgiveness, healing, being lifted from despondency, and being nurtured by God’s steadfast love and mercy==so too may we. Larry knew that even though life is hard, God finds ways to satisfy us with good as long as we live, and for much of his life, he experienced his youth being “renewed like that of the eagle’s.”
Many of his friends have reminded me of his adventuresome spirit throughout his life. When he could no longer run, he took up golf. He also took up painting—producing some fine art work now framed and hanging in their home. And even in recent years Larry dared the challenge of learning to use the computer, though this latter activity left him feeling (at time) he had finally met his match!
As most every one here knows, Larry worked in the alcoholic treatment program. He was quite familiar with the “12 steps” of A.A. One of those steps reads something like this: “I dedicate myself to be of maximum service to God and my fellow man, and to so order my life as to set the highest example for others to follow, and to remain and open channel of God’s will.” Larry was a true servant of God and his fellow man. Not only was he involved in his church, but through many levels of the community as well.
Also along the way, Larry experienced what the prophet Isaiah discovered long ago: “They who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength, they shall mount up with wings as eagles, they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint” (40:31). It seems evident that Larry waited in the presence of the Lord, prayerfully, each day of his life. His walk was a walk with God. I remember so well something Larry shared with our administrative council a few months ago. He was leading our devotions and shared with us the importance of maintaining an awareness of God’s presence. He shared how, in his daily walks, and even on the golf course, he had developed the practice of offering a silent prayer for each person he met—whether he knew them or now.
As you well know he was a runner up until his early 80’s. He loved running, though I’m told that in his later years he did experience weariness in spite of Isaiah’s promise—a weariness in body but not in soul. Yesterday, son-in-law Tom told me that Larry had a great attitude about that weariness. “When I become weary, I slow a bit, and just keep going ‘til I finish the race.” And he always finished the races he begun. He seems to have carried that determination over into the game of life as well. Because of his faithfulness to the cause of his Lord, there is no doubt he can justly say with the apostle Paul: “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith” (II Timothy 4:7). Larry was a regular participant for years in many races in this community. One race was named for him: “The Larry Davis Day (10 k.)” in the nearby community of Doniphan (1985).
In casting about for a story about races run, I cam across the story of the first recorded “marathon runner:”
Perhaps the world’s most famous race is the marathon. The Battle of Marathon was one of the decisive battles of the world. In it the Greeks met the Persians, and, if the Persians had conquered, the glory that was Greece would never have flowered upon the world. Against fearful odds the Greeks won the victory, and, after the battle, a Greek soldier ran all the day, day and night, to Athens with the news. Straight to the magistrates and even as he delivered the message he fell dead. He had completed his course and done his work, and there is no finer way for any one to die.” (Wm. Barclay)
Larry Davis has finished his course and done his work. With the apostle Paul, his heart can sing out, “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith” (II Timothy 4:7). I suspect Larry will be remembered most for the seriousness with which he took the ministry of the Gospel. A friend observed that no matter what challenge confronted him, Larry always faced it with the question: “What are the possibilities for ‘ministry’ in this situation?” He was truly focused on the upward call to ministry!
There is so much we could lift up about him today. Among the cherished memories his family recount are the special vacation trips they took together across the years—even after the girls were married. They still chuckle over one hiking expedition on “Twin Sisters,” mountain peaks south of Estes Park. The trail seemed much steeper coming down than going up, and Merna need[ed] some special coaxing to get back down. Larry kept telling her, “It’s just around the bend.” But it took the bribe of a promised steak dinner to provide the deciding incentive.
Jeannie and Maggi[e] remember that in their childhood and youth it seemed their dad was always goind off to meetings. But Maggi[e] remembers that he made it a point to be there for the big things in her life. And Jeannie will long remember hosting family at Christmas celebrations, and Tom and Ben remember how he always seemed open to new ideas, new adventures. They were all lifted by his steady, positive, enthusiastic outlook on life.
His old friends from Nebraska Wesleyan days (Bayard Paine and Bill Underkofler) remember him for a number of things: his saviness as a running back on the Wesleyan football team, his being a member of the Wesleyan male quartet. They remember the joy they experienced just being in his presence. Even as a young man he carried that positive attitude toward life.
His good friends in the “A.R.M.S. Quartet” will certainly miss him. Dick reports of Larry that “if he couldn’t say a kind word about someone, he wouldn’t say a word at all.” And Dick loves to tell how for years members of the quartet tried to get Larry to change his name to Albert. Three of the four had names that matched the letters in “A.R.M.S.” They had a Richard for “R,” a Melvin for “M,” and a Schroeder for “S.” but nothing in Larry’s name matched the “A.” But Larry failed to see enough importance in that detail to change his name to Albert.
Dick Stalker had the privilege of Larry’s fine assistance in the alcoholic treatment program here in G.I. Dick will long remember Larry for his keen intellect and understanding, and the impression Larry made on people regarding the importance of maintaining good health. But Dick also said a couple of other things about Larry that speak volumes: “He never came off like a preacher!” And “He’s a guy Christ would have really liked!” What a testimony! What a tribute!
In closing I want to share a poem written by Georgia Harkness, one of the early women theologians of this century who held a teaching chair at Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary where Larry received his seminary training. It’s a poem Dr. Harkness wrote as a tribute to her own father at the time of his death. The words seem entirely appropriate for Larry Davis as well.
To My Father
A giant pine, magnificent and old,
Stood staunch against the sky and all around
Shed beauty, grace, and power within its fold
Birds safely reared their young. The velvet ground
Beneath was gentle, and the cooling shade
Gave cheer to passers-by. Its towering arms
A landmark stood, erect and unafraid
As if to say, “Fear naught from life’s alarms.”
It fell one day, where it had dauntless stood
Was loneliness and void. But men who passed
Paid tribute—said, “to know this life was good
It left its mark on me. Its work stands fast.”
And so it lives. Such life no bonds can hold--
This giant pine, magnificent and old.
--Georgia Harkness