Dates
William Vern Davis (Billy Vern) born to Vern and Nina Floe (Williams) Davis of Sterling City on June 21, 1930, died on December 14, 2023, after a long illness.
He will be interred in a private ceremony at a later date in Sterling City.
Bill married Charlene Ring Davis of Hawaii in 1978.
Bill wore many hats. As a young man, he worked many ranches as a cowboy in Sterling City. He put himself through college at Sul Ross and graduated from Texas Tech.
He worked on the oil rigs while in Lubbock. He then served 4 years in the Air Force during the Korean conflict. Once out, he taught agriculture in Eola. He sold insurance and then decided to get a broker’s license selling ranches.
But being the entrepreneur he was, he soon turned his attention to the restaurant business. This seemed to be his calling.
He ran and owned several successful venues in San Angelo, Texas. He was blessed with several partners and fabulous cooks. He was always most generous with his employees.
He was the “D” in the D, F, and R corporation which started the restaurant chains Harrigans and Don Pablos throughout the Metroplex and the Midwest. After retiring in 1995, he continued to dabble in the stock market.
He enjoyed working out at the San Angelo Health Club where he made several friends. He looked forward to his coffee and lunch bunch daily. He loved to dance and was good at it, from Alton Baird to Jody Nix!
He traveled the world with his wife Charlene, and friends Stormy Kimrey, and Marc Redus, managing to visit 120 countries and 50 states.
Anecdotes:
Bill was an extra in the roping scene of the movie “Giant”.
He played linebacker on the Air Force team in Waco.
He could spy arrowheads in his sleep.
Bill is survived by his wife, Charlene, his son Bill Jr. (wife Rose), his daughter, Sandy McLaurin, his grandchildren: Will Davis (wife Brittany), Cole McLaurin (wife Shanna), and Taylor McLaurin (wife Montanah), several great- grandchildren and 4 stepchildren: Danielle Valdivia
(husband Chris), Wallace Daniel, Mitchell Daniel (deceased), and Jimmy Morris. He has missed his devoted dog “Beau” who played ball with him 3 times a day.
Many wonderful thanks to all his wonderful caregivers and medical providers, especially Andrea, Pearl, Becky, Delma, Melissa, Monica, and Angels Care Hospice nurses Vanessa, Autumn, and Melanie.