(Sept. 6, 1928 ~ Feb. 11, 2018)
Beutonne Evatt Davis, 89, lost a long and courageous battle with Parkinson’s disease on Sunday, Feb. 11, 2018, in Stephenville. Funeral service will be held Thursday, Feb. 15, at 2 p.m. at the Stephenville Funeral Home Chapel, Brother Gary Williams officiating. Burial will follow in the Huckabay Cemetery. A visitation will be held Wednesday, Feb. 14, from 5 to 7 p.m. at the funeral home.
Bonnie Beutonne Evatt was born on Sept. 6, 1928, in rural northern Erath County. The daughter of Claud B and Vernie (McInroe) Evatt, she was a fifth-generation descendant of early Erath County settlers on both family lines. She attended the one-room Liberty Valley School next to the family farm before transferring to Huckabay. There she excelled in academics, met her future husband, and graduated valedictorian of her senior class at age 16 in 1945. She began her studies at Tarleton the same year, and worked in Stephenville until her marriage to Ercil “C.E.” Davis in Stephenville on May 22, 1948.
She received her Bachelor of Science degree in business administration from Tarleton University in 1964, following the birth of three children. She and her husband’s careers in education led them from Stephenville to Bryan/College Station, Oak Dale, Star, Lingeville, Gordon, and Valley Mills. Mrs. Davis taught fourth grade and high school business and accounting. She also served as class sponsor, Beta Club and Annual Staff sponsors. She loved teaching, and inspired hundreds of young people in her classrooms throughout her 25 years in education. She retired in 1988.
She was a kind and loving daughter, wife, mother, and grandmother. She was a devoted caregiver to both her parents, and her daughter, Charlene, who also fought Parkinson’s disease for two decades. She enjoyed cooking, sewing, gardening, canning, and sharing her talents with family and friends. She loved animals and cherished her grandchildren. Her faith and courage never wavered, and only death could still her servant’s heart. She found great joy in her 30-year retirement, living on the family farm and home of her childhood.
She was baptized in the Church of Christ at Liberty Valley as a child and was a faithful member throughout her life. She was a friend to congregations in Liberty, Huckabay, Gordon, Valley Mills, and Stephenville.
Beutonne was preceded in death by her brother, Paul Dorvis Evatt, in 1922; her infant son J.B. Davis in 1951; her parents Claud and Vernie Evatt in 1963 and 1984; and her daughter, Bonnie Charlene Davis in 2013.
She is lovingly remembered by her husband of nearly 70 years, Ercil “C.E.” Davis of Stephenville; her son, Claud Bryan Davis and wife Julie of Clifton; her grandson, Evan Alexander Davis of San Antonio; her granddaughter, Elaine Beutonne Davis of Stephenville; sister-in-law Guyla Davis of Stephenville; brother-in-law Gerald Davis and wife Mary of Garland; numerous nieces, nephews, and friends left to cherish her memory.
Memorials may be made to the American Parkinson’s Disease Foundation, www.parkinson.org, or the Huckabay Community Center Fund, 5587 CR 423, Stephenville, Texas 76401.
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