Franklin C. Davis Sr., age 82, of Lamar, Mo., passed away at 10:30 a.m., Wednesday, March 5, 2008, at Landmark Hospital, in Joplin, following a three month illness. Franklin was born Sept. 29, 1925, in Mullins, S.C., to Samuel Lester and Lula Mattie (Nance) Davis. He was a D-A3 supervisor at the State Hospital, in Nevada, retiring in 1985. He was a member of the Masonic Lodge and was a United States Navy Veteran of World War II.

Survivors include one son, Frank C. Davis Jr. and wife Lisa; one daughter, Kim Howarth and husband Brent, both of Lamar; one brother Sam Davis and one sister, Rae Hammons, both of Myrtle Beach, S.C.; seven grandchildren, Curtiss Davis and Jessica Davis, of Nevada, Cody and Sophia Davis, and Brenton, Blake and Kaleigh Howarth, all of Lamar. He was preceded in death by a son, Clarence Lynn Davis, of Lamar, three brothers and a sister, from South Carolina.

Franklin's desire was to be cremated. The family will receive friends from 2-4 p.m., Sunday, March 16, at the First Baptist Church, of Nevada. Arrangements have been entrusted to Mason-Woodard Mortuary, of Joplin.