Oliver Davis

Oliver Orville Davis, 90, of Nashville, formerly of Saint Louis, Michigan, slipped away to be with his Lord, Friday, June 26, 2015 at his home. He was born July 15, 1924 to Frederick and Alexandrine Duquette Davis, in Manistique, MI; the youngest of ten children. As a young boy, Oliver gave his heart to the Lord at a tent revival. During the Great Depression he worked in the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) by saying he was 18 years old. He graduated from Manistique High School in 1942. He served on the Great Lakes as a Merchant Marine. During this time he received the Lord's call to preach. In WWII he enlisted in the US Navy and served as a Radioman during World War II. During the Battle of Tarawa, he supported the US Marines. After the War, Oliver attended Greenville College, Greenville, Illinois, where he met his wife, Nina Moss. Oliver and Nina were married August 26, 1947. After his graduation in 1949, Oliver and Nina moved to Curtis, Michigan where he taught elementary school and worked to build the Curtis Free Methodist Church. To financially further his education, Oliver and Nina opened a summer business, "Ann's Bake Shop", known for their bread and pies. Oliver graduated from Asbury Theological Seminary in 1959. Oliver became the pastor of the Lakeview Free Methodist Church (Michigan) from 1959-1965 where he spearheaded the building of the new Lakeview Free Methodist Church. From 1965-1970, Oliver pastored the Boyne City Free Methodist Church (Michigan), where he organized the building of its new church. In 1970, Oliver pastored the Oakridge Free Methodist Church where he helped build a new parsonage. He pastored the Sumner Free Methodist Church 1977-1981. He then served as a lay minister until he retired from the ministry in 1988. Oliver was also a public school teacher at Riverdale Public Schools and Alma Public Schools, where he taught 4th grade from 1970-1988. He continued the Lord's work past retirement. Nina affectionately called him "Marrying Sam" because of all the couples who asked him to preside over their wedding ceremonies. Oliver and Nina were well known for the power of their prayers and their love of the Lord Jesus.
Oliver Davis is preceded in death by his wife of 60 years, Nina Moss Davis, who passed in 2007. Oliver Davis is survived by his children, Ann Shaver (John), James Davis (Diane), John Davis (Leslie), Paul Davis (Cheryl), Joy Martin (Cecil) and Janice Schroeder (Kenneth); his grandchildren Nicholai Shaver, Joanna Davis, Michael Davis (Rebecka), Stephen Davis, Christopher Schroeder and Gregory (Melissa) Schroeder.
He was preceded in death by his parents; wife; five brothers and four sisters.
Funeral Services will be held at Living Hope Fellowship Church, St. Louis, Michigan on Wednesday, July 1, 2015 at 11:00 A.M. with Rev. Donna Scott officiating. Burial will take place at Fairview Cemetery, Manistique, MI. Visitation will be held on Tuesday, June 30, 2015 at Smith Family Funeral Homes, St. Louis, MI from 6:00-8:00 P.M. Visitation will also be held from 10:00 A.M. until the time of service at the church.




Read Oliver Davis's Obituary and Guestbook on smithfamilyfuneralhomes.com.