Thomas Ray Davis Sr was born Okmulgee County, OK on Sept 11, 1929. He was the third son of Henry and Ara Davis. His father worked in the oil fields and his mother was a homemaker. In 1940 Henry and Ara had eight boys ~ Henry Jr., Howard E., Thomas, Norman, Ronald, Bob, Floyd and Stanley. They packed up their boys and possessions made their way to Husum, WA. where they briefly lived with Ara's brother Omer and his family. Henry worked with Omer in the orchards for a brief period but he felt they could do better in the Sacramento area. They settled in Perkins, Sacramento Co, CA.
Henry worked on the hop ranches. The older boys worked along side him. Tom and his brother were paid 25 cents. Not 25 cents each but together they were paid 25 cents an hour. And that money was paid to their dad. After moving to California his mother corresponded with Grace Mendenhall, a family friend that still lived in OK. She encouraged Grace and her family to move to California. This move brought Kathryn Aldridge back into his life. He used to say that Kathryn chased him all the way from Oklahoma and caught him in Perkins. The ranch that they lived on was located at Watt Ave and Folsom Blvd in Perkins. Long after the hop ranch was gone there was a huge oak tree and Mom used to point at the tree and tell us that they had their first kiss under that tree.
Tom graduated from Sacramento High School in 1947, Kathryn graduated in 1948 and they married Jan 1949. Tom worked at Campbell Soup and DMV briefly before going to work at Perkins Welding Works. Tom and Kathryn had Diana and Tom Jr when Tom took the test for the California Highway Patrol. He joined the patrol in 1957 and after graduating from the academy he was assigned to the Norwalk Division in Los Angeles County. During his rookie year they added Mary K. to the family and once they returned to Sacramento in 1959 David was born. They built their family home on Lorin Avenue in Florin, CA. Most of his life Tom worked two and three jobs at a time. He invested in Fruitridge Car Wash in the last 60's and eventually took control of the business from the partner. The car wash provided employment opportunities for many family members, neighbors and friends over the years. He was working with other CHP employees to create a credit union for the CAHP members through out the state. While attending a CAHP convention in 1972 he suffered a heart attack and his first bypass surgery followed. He chose to retire at the age of 43 rather than take a desk job. In 1977 he took the insurance solicitors exam and joined Jones & Co Insurance Agency.
All of this sounds like Tom was all work and no play. He was an avid hunter and fisherman. He lost many hunting and fishing buddies to the game of golf (he played one golf game and hated it). For years he traveled to Idaho to hunt elk and deer near Long Tom Lookout. He's fished in Alaska, Canada and Mexico not to mention the lakes and rivers of California, Oregon, Nevada and Arizona. Tom and Kathryn traveled to British Columbia and Arizona each year. They made friends where ever they went. He enjoyed traveling and enjoyed visiting the relatives that didn't make the move to California. In 2014 he was named "Moose of the Year" by the So Sacramento Loyal Order of the Moose.
Prior to Kathryn's death Tom was diagnosed with dementia. After she passed away he asked Diana to move in with him.
Diana moved in but eventually it took all four children plus a full time paid caregiver to keep him at home until he passed away.
On Oct 2, 2016 his youngest living brother Floyd lost his battle with pancreatic cancer and emphysema. Twenty four hours later Tom's heart finally stopped beating.
Henry worked on the hop ranches. The older boys worked along side him. Tom and his brother were paid 25 cents. Not 25 cents each but together they were paid 25 cents an hour. And that money was paid to their dad. After moving to California his mother corresponded with Grace Mendenhall, a family friend that still lived in OK. She encouraged Grace and her family to move to California. This move brought Kathryn Aldridge back into his life. He used to say that Kathryn chased him all the way from Oklahoma and caught him in Perkins. The ranch that they lived on was located at Watt Ave and Folsom Blvd in Perkins. Long after the hop ranch was gone there was a huge oak tree and Mom used to point at the tree and tell us that they had their first kiss under that tree.
Tom graduated from Sacramento High School in 1947, Kathryn graduated in 1948 and they married Jan 1949. Tom worked at Campbell Soup and DMV briefly before going to work at Perkins Welding Works. Tom and Kathryn had Diana and Tom Jr when Tom took the test for the California Highway Patrol. He joined the patrol in 1957 and after graduating from the academy he was assigned to the Norwalk Division in Los Angeles County. During his rookie year they added Mary K. to the family and once they returned to Sacramento in 1959 David was born. They built their family home on Lorin Avenue in Florin, CA. Most of his life Tom worked two and three jobs at a time. He invested in Fruitridge Car Wash in the last 60's and eventually took control of the business from the partner. The car wash provided employment opportunities for many family members, neighbors and friends over the years. He was working with other CHP employees to create a credit union for the CAHP members through out the state. While attending a CAHP convention in 1972 he suffered a heart attack and his first bypass surgery followed. He chose to retire at the age of 43 rather than take a desk job. In 1977 he took the insurance solicitors exam and joined Jones & Co Insurance Agency.
All of this sounds like Tom was all work and no play. He was an avid hunter and fisherman. He lost many hunting and fishing buddies to the game of golf (he played one golf game and hated it). For years he traveled to Idaho to hunt elk and deer near Long Tom Lookout. He's fished in Alaska, Canada and Mexico not to mention the lakes and rivers of California, Oregon, Nevada and Arizona. Tom and Kathryn traveled to British Columbia and Arizona each year. They made friends where ever they went. He enjoyed traveling and enjoyed visiting the relatives that didn't make the move to California. In 2014 he was named "Moose of the Year" by the So Sacramento Loyal Order of the Moose.
Prior to Kathryn's death Tom was diagnosed with dementia. After she passed away he asked Diana to move in with him.
Diana moved in but eventually it took all four children plus a full time paid caregiver to keep him at home until he passed away.
On Oct 2, 2016 his youngest living brother Floyd lost his battle with pancreatic cancer and emphysema. Twenty four hours later Tom's heart finally stopped beating.
Thomas Ray Davis Sr was born Okmulgee County, OK on Sept 11, 1929. He was the third son of Henry and Ara Davis. His father worked in the oil fields and his mother was a homemaker. In 1940 Henry and Ara had eight boys ~ Henry Jr., Howard E., Thomas, Norman, Ronald, Bob, Floyd and Stanley. They packed up their boys and possessions made their way to Husum, WA. where they briefly lived with Ara's brother Omer and his family. Henry worked with Omer in the orchards for a brief period but he felt they could do better in the Sacramento area. They settled in Perkins, Sacramento Co, CA.
Henry worked on the hop ranches. The older boys worked along side him. Tom and his brother were paid 25 cents. Not 25 cents each but together they were paid 25 cents an hour. And that money was paid to their dad. After moving to California his mother corresponded with Grace Mendenhall, a family friend that still lived in OK. She encouraged Grace and her family to move to California. This move brought Kathryn Aldridge back into his life. He used to say that Kathryn chased him all the way from Oklahoma and caught him in Perkins. The ranch that they lived on was located at Watt Ave and Folsom Blvd in Perkins. Long after the hop ranch was gone there was a huge oak tree and Mom used to point at the tree and tell us that they had their first kiss under that tree.
Tom graduated from Sacramento High School in 1947, Kathryn graduated in 1948 and they married Jan 1949. Tom worked at Campbell Soup and DMV briefly before going to work at Perkins Welding Works. Tom and Kathryn had Diana and Tom Jr when Tom took the test for the California Highway Patrol. He joined the patrol in 1957 and after graduating from the academy he was assigned to the Norwalk Division in Los Angeles County. During his rookie year they added Mary K. to the family and once they returned to Sacramento in 1959 David was born. They built their family home on Lorin Avenue in Florin, CA. Most of his life Tom worked two and three jobs at a time. He invested in Fruitridge Car Wash in the last 60's and eventually took control of the business from the partner. The car wash provided employment opportunities for many family members, neighbors and friends over the years. He was working with other CHP employees to create a credit union for the CAHP members through out the state. While attending a CAHP convention in 1972 he suffered a heart attack and his first bypass surgery followed. He chose to retire at the age of 43 rather than take a desk job. In 1977 he took the insurance solicitors exam and joined Jones & Co Insurance Agency.
All of this sounds like Tom was all work and no play. He was an avid hunter and fisherman. He lost many hunting and fishing buddies to the game of golf (he played one golf game and hated it). For years he traveled to Idaho to hunt elk and deer near Long Tom Lookout. He's fished in Alaska, Canada and Mexico not to mention the lakes and rivers of California, Oregon, Nevada and Arizona. Tom and Kathryn traveled to British Columbia and Arizona each year. They made friends where ever they went. He enjoyed traveling and enjoyed visiting the relatives that didn't make the move to California. In 2014 he was named "Moose of the Year" by the So Sacramento Loyal Order of the Moose.
Prior to Kathryn's death Tom was diagnosed with dementia. After she passed away he asked Diana to move in with him.
Diana moved in but eventually it took all four children plus a full time paid caregiver to keep him at home until he passed away.
On Oct 2, 2016 his youngest living brother Floyd lost his battle with pancreatic cancer and emphysema. Twenty four hours later Tom's heart finally stopped beating.
Henry worked on the hop ranches. The older boys worked along side him. Tom and his brother were paid 25 cents. Not 25 cents each but together they were paid 25 cents an hour. And that money was paid to their dad. After moving to California his mother corresponded with Grace Mendenhall, a family friend that still lived in OK. She encouraged Grace and her family to move to California. This move brought Kathryn Aldridge back into his life. He used to say that Kathryn chased him all the way from Oklahoma and caught him in Perkins. The ranch that they lived on was located at Watt Ave and Folsom Blvd in Perkins. Long after the hop ranch was gone there was a huge oak tree and Mom used to point at the tree and tell us that they had their first kiss under that tree.
Tom graduated from Sacramento High School in 1947, Kathryn graduated in 1948 and they married Jan 1949. Tom worked at Campbell Soup and DMV briefly before going to work at Perkins Welding Works. Tom and Kathryn had Diana and Tom Jr when Tom took the test for the California Highway Patrol. He joined the patrol in 1957 and after graduating from the academy he was assigned to the Norwalk Division in Los Angeles County. During his rookie year they added Mary K. to the family and once they returned to Sacramento in 1959 David was born. They built their family home on Lorin Avenue in Florin, CA. Most of his life Tom worked two and three jobs at a time. He invested in Fruitridge Car Wash in the last 60's and eventually took control of the business from the partner. The car wash provided employment opportunities for many family members, neighbors and friends over the years. He was working with other CHP employees to create a credit union for the CAHP members through out the state. While attending a CAHP convention in 1972 he suffered a heart attack and his first bypass surgery followed. He chose to retire at the age of 43 rather than take a desk job. In 1977 he took the insurance solicitors exam and joined Jones & Co Insurance Agency.
All of this sounds like Tom was all work and no play. He was an avid hunter and fisherman. He lost many hunting and fishing buddies to the game of golf (he played one golf game and hated it). For years he traveled to Idaho to hunt elk and deer near Long Tom Lookout. He's fished in Alaska, Canada and Mexico not to mention the lakes and rivers of California, Oregon, Nevada and Arizona. Tom and Kathryn traveled to British Columbia and Arizona each year. They made friends where ever they went. He enjoyed traveling and enjoyed visiting the relatives that didn't make the move to California. In 2014 he was named "Moose of the Year" by the So Sacramento Loyal Order of the Moose.
Prior to Kathryn's death Tom was diagnosed with dementia. After she passed away he asked Diana to move in with him.
Diana moved in but eventually it took all four children plus a full time paid caregiver to keep him at home until he passed away.
On Oct 2, 2016 his youngest living brother Floyd lost his battle with pancreatic cancer and emphysema. Twenty four hours later Tom's heart finally stopped beating.
