Don Davis (December 22, 1928 - March 9, 2015)

Carlene's favorite uncle, Don Davis, passed away on Monday, March 9 after suffering a stroke on Friday. He was the father of Carlene's cousin Lorrie Davis Bennett, having been married to her mother Anita Carter. Hearing the news, Carlene wrote: "I'm tore up. I hate this has to happen. As we get older, the people we learned from and leaned upon leave us here. I know Aunt Nita, Momma and Helen will be so happy to be with him."   

Starting when he was just a teen, Mr. Davis became one of the youngest and most in-demand musicians in the early days of the Grand Ole Opry, playing steel guitar both on stage and over 3,000 records with everyone from Minnie Pearl to Hank Williams, then as music producer for Johnny Cash, Waylon Jennings, and many others, plus arranger, publisher, and television host. In 1997 he was inducted into the Alabama Music Hall of Fame, and released his memoir, Nashville Steeler: My Life in Country Music, in 2012.

Carlene wrote: "My Uncle Don Davis was the sweetest funniest man in the world. He always made us girls laugh and I loved every moment I spent with him. Incredibly talented musician and was successful in everything he put his hand to. An amazing father to Lorrie and Jay and to me he always had a smile and a loving hug no matter how old I was. I loved him dearly. He will be missed by us all who knew him. Even though death is a natural part of life it always hurts those left behind."

Photo courtesy of Lorrie

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